This is a list of Roman bridges. The
Romans were the world's first major bridge builders. The following list constitutes an attempt to list all known surviving remains of
Roman bridge
The ancient Romans were the first civilization to build large, permanent bridges. Early Roman bridges used techniques introduced by Etruscan immigrants, but the Romans improved those skills, developing and enhancing methods such as arches an ...
s.
A Roman bridge in the sense of this article includes any of these features:
*Roman arches
*Roman pillars
*Roman foundations
*Roman abutments
*Roman roadway
*Roman cutwaters
Also listed are bridges which feature substantially Roman material (
spolia), as long as the later bridge is erected on the site of a Roman precursor. Finally, incidences where only inscriptions lay testimony to a former Roman bridge are also included.
In the following, bridges are classified either according to their material or their function. Most data not otherwise marked come from O’Connor's ''Roman Bridges'', which lists 330 stone bridges for traffic, 34 timber bridges and 54
aqueduct bridges. An even larger compilation of more than 900 Roman bridges (as of 2011) is offered by the Italian scholar Galliazzo, who is used here only selectively.
Note: the table columns are sortable by clicking the header, e.g. for country of origin, etc.
Note on classification
Bridges are particularly difficult to classify as they, more than other structures, are subject to wear, on account of war and the impact of natural elements. The constant need for repairs through the ages has often turned bridges into hybrid structures, making it often difficult or nearly impossible to determine the exact date and origin of individual parts of a bridge. Thus, the majority of bridges listed below can be assumed to include
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
or (early)
modern modifications, replacements or extensions, to a small or large extent.
Masonry road bridges
The following table lists road bridges made out of stone or brick. The vast majority features arches, although stone deck slabs were also known. Bridges' spans and height abbreviations: S = small, M = middle, L = large.
Timber and stone pillar bridges
A
timber
Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including Beam (structure), beams and plank (wood), planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as fini ...
bridge is a structure composed wholly out of wood, while a stone pillar bridge features a wooden
superstructure resting on stone
pillars. Strictly speaking, many bridges of the second type should be rather called "
concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most ...
pillar bridges", as the Romans preferably used
opus caementicium for constructing their bridge piers (stone was confined in these cases to covering). Both types, timber bridges and stone respectively concrete pillar bridges, are listed here in the same category as historically, with the consolidation of Roman power in the newly conquered
provinces
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...
, wooden bridges often gave way to solid pillar bridges.
Pontoon bridges
As an alternative to
ferry services, the Roman army often made use of
pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge (or ponton bridge), also known as a floating bridge, uses floats or shallow- draft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. The buoyancy of the supports limits the maximum load that they can carry. ...
s, along with timber structures, for river crossings. They usually consisted of boats lashed together, with the
bows pointing towards the current. Permanent bridges of boats were also commonly set up for civilian traffic.
Aqueduct bridges
See also
*
Record-holding bridges in antiquity
*
List of Roman sites in Spain
This is a list of existing Roman sites in Spain.
Altars
* Roman altar of Arcos de la Frontera
Archaeological sites
* Archaeological Ensemble of Acinipo
* Almoina Archaeological Centre
* Cabeza Ladrero
* Roman ruins of Calduba
* Archaeo ...
General overview
*
Roman architecture
Ancient Roman architecture adopted the external language of classical Greek architecture for the purposes of the ancient Romans, but was different from Greek buildings, becoming a new architectural style. The two styles are often considered o ...
*
Roman engineering
The ancient Romans were famous for their advanced engineering accomplishments. Technology for bringing running water into cities was developed in the east, but transformed by the Romans into a technology inconceivable in Greece. The architecture ...
*
Roman military engineering
*
Roman technology
Other Roman building structures
*
Roman aqueduct
The Romans constructed aqueducts throughout their Republic and later Empire, to bring water from outside sources into cities and towns. Aqueduct water supplied public baths, latrines, fountains, and private households; it also supported min ...
*
Roman roads
References
Sources
Main source
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Other sources
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Further reading
*Fernández Casado, C.: ''Historia del puente en España. Puentes Romanos'', Instituto Eduardo Torroja, Madrid 1980
External links
*
Vici.org category 'brige'- Overview and map ofRoman Bridges
Traianusnbsp;– Technical investigation of Roman public works
600 Roman Aqueductsnbsp;– with 40 described in detail
nbsp;– pictures and description
nbsp;– Roman Bridges
Ancient Tiber River Bridges and the Development of Rome
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Roman Bridges
Bridges
Roman bridges
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