Tiber Island

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tiber Island
The Tiber Island from the west
The Tiber Island from the west
Waters Tiber
Geographical location 41 ° 53 '27 "  N , 12 ° 28' 38"  E Coordinates: 41 ° 53 '27 "  N , 12 ° 28' 38"  E
Tiber Island (Latium)
Tiber Island
length 270 m
width 67 m
surface 1.8 ha

The Tiber Island ( Italian : Isola Tiberina , Latin: Insula Tiberina ) is a small island in the Tiber River in Rome . It is approx. 270 m long and up to 67 m wide.

history

A forecast for it to have originated when the Roman people his last Etruscan-Roman king Tarquinius Superbus sales, while by the Mars field , throwing plundered ears of corn, which belonged to the king into the Tiber. Indeed, the Tiber Island is central to the city of Rome. Since it made it easier to cross the river, it was possible to continue the roads connecting the northern Tyrrhenian coast with the southern one at this point . This made this island a strategically important point, arguably one of the most important factors in the formation of Rome. The island is similar in shape to a ship, and an obelisk that used to be in the center of the island, called the "mast", underlined this similarity.

As of 293 BC When a serious epidemic struck the city in BC , it was decided, after questioning the Sibylline books , to send an embassy to Epidauros , to the most important cult site of Aesculap , the god of healing. The trireme returned after the legend of Epidaurus with a sacred snake back, the symbol of God. At the Navalia on the Martian field , the snake dived into the river and swam to the island, where it disappeared. In this way the place was determined for a temple that is no longer preserved today . Construction began immediately in 289 BC. Completed and the temple dedicated. The real reason for the construction of the temple, however, may have been the isolation of this place.

Porticos and other buildings were erected next to the temple to accommodate the sick pilgrims who were hoping for a miracle cure here . There are several inscriptions attesting to miraculous healings, votive tablets and consecration gifts to the deity. Sick slaves , whose care had become too burdensome for their masters, were sent to the island. Emperor Claudius declared free all slaves who were healed on the island.

use

The island is connected to the mainland by two bridges. The 62 BC leads to the left bank. Built and still preserved Pons Fabricius ; to the right bank, to Trastevere the 46 v. Chr. Built Pons Cestius . The latter was renewed around 370 by the emperors Valentinian I , Valens and Gratian and completely rebuilt towards the end of the 19th century.

Today the island is home to the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all'Isola and a hospital run by the Order of the Brothers of Mercy ( Ospedale Fatebenefratelli ).

The island has been used by Rome's Jewish community since the late 19th century , including a hospital there and a small synagogue, the Tempio dei Giovani , established in 1937 , which was reopened in 1985.

literature

Web links

Commons : Isola Tiberina  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Livy : Ab urbe condita 2.5.
  2. engl. Entry on hospital and synagogue on isolatiberina.it ( memento of the original from April 9, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.isolatiberina.it