Ponte dei Quattro Capi
Coordinates: 41 ° 53 ′ 28 " N , 12 ° 28 ′ 41" E
| Ponte dei Quattro Capi (Ponte Fabricio) (Pons Fabricius) |
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| Convicted | Connection between Tiber Island and the left bank of the Tiber | |
| Crossing of | Tiber | |
| place | Rome ( Italy ) | |
| construction | Arch bridge with vaulted vaults | |
| overall length | 62 m | |
| width | 5.5 m | |
| Number of openings | 2 | |
| Clear width | Approx. 25 m | |
| completion | 62 BC Chr. | |
| planner | Lucius Fabricius | |
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The Ponte dei Quattro Capi , also Ponte Fabricio (Latin Pons Fabricius ), is the oldest bridge in Rome that has been preserved in its original state . As a counterpart to the Ponte Cestio, it connects the Tiber Island with the left bank of the Tiber . She was 62 BC. Chr. Built by the Curator for the roads Lucius Fabricius.
A special feature of the bridge is that its two arches, with a span of over 25 m below the water level, merge to form circular arcs. This is typical for early Roman bridges, as the builders were of the opinion that closed circular arcs made of wedge stones would achieve a particularly high level of stability. This was justified at a time when foundations that reached down to stable layers could not be made on marshy ground or in water. The closed circle prevents the pillars from being rinsed out and from moving sideways. There is also a noticeably large arched opening in the central pillar. It is used to reduce the pressure on the foundation and improve the water drainage during floods.
It was named Ponte dei Quattro Capi (Bridge of Four Heads) from two ancient steles at the beginning of the bridge, each with four heads depicting Hercules or Janus . In the Middle Ages it was also called Pons Judaeorum because it led to the Jewish ghetto in Rome .
See also
Web links
- Ponte dei Quattro Capi. In: Structurae
- Pons Fabricius at Brueckenweb
- Side of the city of Rome (Italian)
- www.romasegreta.it (Italian)