The Ponte Nomentano (called Pons Lamentanus during the Middle Ages) is a Roman bridge in Rome, Italy, which carried the Via Nomentana over the Aniene (Latin: Anio). Having lain outside the city limits for most of its history, the picturesque bridge is noted for its medieval bridge tower, which served to protect this important northern approach to Rome.
In antiquity, the Ponte Nomentano was located outside of the Aurelian Wall, at a distance of 3.9 km from the Porta Nomentana.[1] The East Roman historian Procopius records that the bridge was destroyed by the Ostrogoths under their king Totila around 547 AD during the Gothic War, but rebuilt by the victorious Roman general Narses in 552.[2] The still-intact late Republican fabric of the main arch, however, indicates that the bridge might have been only partially damaged in the event.[3]
The lower part of the bridge tower dates, according to an unproven tradition, from the time of Pope Adrian I (772–795). The imposing castle-like structure was constructed during a general overhaul of the bridge by Pope Nicholas V (1447–1455), after which minor repairs followed in 1461, 1470, and 1474.[1]
In 1849, French troops cut the bridge by 7 m to check Garibaldi's advance on Rome, but it was soon restored.[7]
Today, the bridge is surrounded by a park, well within the municipal limits of Rome, and restricted to pedestrians.
Structure
The 31.30-meter-long superstructure of the Ponte Nomentano has, in essence, preserved its medieval character, while the dimensions of the bridge, which measure 60 m in overall length and 7.35 m in width, have remained practically unchanged since antiquity.[8] The 15-meter-wide central arch clearly dates back to ancient times, it is presumed from the late Republic or early AugustanPrincipate, as indicated by its semi-circular shape and the execution of the travertine stonework.[9] Apart from this, only some further layers of travertine in the retaining walls can be assigned with certainty to the Roman period.[9] The two lateral brick arches were built in the reign of Pope Innocent X (1644–1655) in lieu of stone vaults.[1]
ponte, nomentano, called, pons, lamentanus, during, middle, ages, roman, bridge, rome, italy, which, carried, nomentana, over, aniene, latin, anio, having, lain, outside, city, limits, most, history, picturesque, bridge, noted, medieval, bridge, tower, which, . The Ponte Nomentano called Pons Lamentanus during the Middle Ages is a Roman bridge in Rome Italy which carried the Via Nomentana over the Aniene Latin Anio Having lain outside the city limits for most of its history the picturesque bridge is noted for its medieval bridge tower which served to protect this important northern approach to Rome Ponte Nomentano Pons Lamentanus Coordinates41 56 01 N 12 31 57 E 41 933611 N 12 5325 E 41 933611 12 5325 Coordinates 41 56 01 N 12 31 57 E 41 933611 N 12 5325 E 41 933611 12 5325CarriesVia NomentanaCrossesAnieneLocaleRome ItalyCharacteristicsDesignFortified arch bridgeMaterialStone incl travertine brickTotal length60 mWidth7 35 mLongest span15 mNo of spans3HistoryConstruction endProbably 1st century BCLocation Contents 1 History 2 Structure 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksHistory Edit Ponte Nomentano by Giuseppe Vasi c 1752 Painting by Joseph Wright of Derby in the 1770s In antiquity the Ponte Nomentano was located outside of the Aurelian Wall at a distance of 3 9 km from the Porta Nomentana 1 The East Roman historian Procopius records that the bridge was destroyed by the Ostrogoths under their king Totila around 547 AD during the Gothic War but rebuilt by the victorious Roman general Narses in 552 2 The still intact late Republican fabric of the main arch however indicates that the bridge might have been only partially damaged in the event 3 The lower part of the bridge tower dates according to an unproven tradition from the time of Pope Adrian I 772 795 The imposing castle like structure was constructed during a general overhaul of the bridge by Pope Nicholas V 1447 1455 after which minor repairs followed in 1461 1470 and 1474 1 A view of the bridge was painted by English artist Joseph Wright of Derby in the 1770s 4 The painting was later badly overpainted 5 and it languished in the Derby Museum until it was rediscovered and restored in 2017 as documented by the television series Britain s Lost Masterpieces series 2 episode 2 6 In 1849 French troops cut the bridge by 7 m to check Garibaldi s advance on Rome but it was soon restored 7 Today the bridge is surrounded by a park well within the municipal limits of Rome and restricted to pedestrians Structure EditThe 31 30 meter long superstructure of the Ponte Nomentano has in essence preserved its medieval character while the dimensions of the bridge which measure 60 m in overall length and 7 35 m in width have remained practically unchanged since antiquity 8 The 15 meter wide central arch clearly dates back to ancient times it is presumed from the late Republic or early Augustan Principate as indicated by its semi circular shape and the execution of the travertine stonework 9 Apart from this only some further layers of travertine in the retaining walls can be assigned with certainty to the Roman period 9 The two lateral brick arches were built in the reign of Pope Innocent X 1644 1655 in lieu of stone vaults 1 Further examples for fortified bridges across the Aniene include the Roman Ponte Salario and Ponte Mammolo 10 and the medieval Ponte di San Francesco in Subiaco Gallery Edit Painting of the Ponte Nomentano around 1837 During 2008 flood Medieval bridge tower PassagewaySee also EditList of Roman bridges Roman architecture Roman engineeringReferences Edit a b c Galliazzo 1994 p 37 Procopius De Bello Gothico 3 24 Galliazzo 1994 pp 37 39 A View of the Ponte Nomentano near Rome Art UK Retrieved 2021 10 01 View of the Ponte Nomentano by Joseph Wright of Derby Derby Museums Retrieved 2021 10 01 Grovesnor Bender Britain s Lost Masterpieces 2 2 BBC iplayer BBC Retrieved 5 October 2017 Galliazzo 1994 pp 37 38 Galliazzo 1994 pp 38 39 a b Galliazzo 1994 p 39 O Connor 1993 p 68Sources EditGalliazzo Vittorio 1994 I ponti romani Catalogo generale vol 2 Treviso Edizioni Canova pp 37 39 No 21 ISBN 88 85066 66 6 O Connor Colin 1993 Roman Bridges Cambridge University Press p 68 I15 ISBN 0 521 39326 4External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ponte Nomentano Illustrated article at Romeartlover Ponte Nomentano at Structurae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ponte Nomentano amp oldid 1109374127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
