Ponte Nomentano

Ponte Nomentano
(Pons Lamentanus)
Ponte Nomentano; (Pons Lamentanus)
Coordinates	41°56′01″N 12°31′57″E / 41.933611°N 12.5325°E
Carries	Via Nomentana
Crosses	Aniene
Locale	Rome, Italy
Characteristics
Design	Fortified arch bridge
Material	Stone (incl. travertine), brick
Total length	60 m
Width	7.35 m
Longest span	15 m
No. of spans	3
History
Construction end	Probably 1st century BC
Location

The Ponte Nomentano (called Pons Lamentanus during the

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.

History

In

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

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 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

Subiaco

.

Gallery

Painting of the Ponte Nomentano around 1837
During 2008 flood
Medieval bridge tower
Passageway

References

^ ^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. 68

Sources

Galliazzo, 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 0-521-39326-4

External links

Illustrated article at Romeartlover
Ponte Nomentano at Structurae

[Galliazzo_1994,_37-1] Galliazzo 1994, p. 37

[2] Procopius: De Bello Gothico, 3.24

[3] Galliazzo 1994, pp. 37, 39

[4] "A View of the Ponte Nomentano, near Rome". Art UK. Retrieved 2021-10-01.

[5] "View of the Ponte Nomentano, by Joseph Wright of Derby". Derby Museums. Retrieved 2021-10-01.

[bg-6] Grovesnor, Bender. "Britain's Lost Masterpieces 2/2". BBC iplayer. BBC. Retrieved 5 October 2017.

[7] Galliazzo 1994, pp. 37–38

[8] Galliazzo 1994, pp. 38–39

[Galliazzo_1994,_39-9] Galliazzo 1994, p. 39

[10] O’Connor 1993, p. 68

[2]

[3]

[1]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

v t e Roman bridges
England	Chesters Bridge Piercebridge Roman Bridge Pons Aelius
France	Pont Ambroix Pont de Bornègre Pont des Marchands Pont du Gard Pont Flavien Pont Julien Pont Serme Pont sur la Laye Roman Bridge (Saint-Thibéry) Roman Bridge (Vaison-la-Romaine)
Germany	Caesar's Rhine bridges Roman Bridge (Trier)
Iran	Band-e Kaisar
Italy	Pons Aemilius Pons Agrippae Ponte Altinate Pons Cestius Pons Fabricius Pons Neronianus Pons Probi Pons Sublicius Pont d'Aël Pont de Pierre (Aosta) Pont-Saint-Martin Ponte d'Augusto (Narni) Ponte di Tiberio Ponte Corvo Ponte del Gran Caso Ponte Milvio Ponte Molino (Padua) Ponte Nomentano Ponte Pietra (Verona) Ponte di Pioraco Ponte di Quintodecimo Ponte Salario Ponte San Lorenzo Ponte di San Vito Ponte Sant'Angelo Susegana Bridge
Lebanon	Leontes Bridge
Portugal	Ponte de Rubiães Ponte Nova da Cava da Velha Roman Bridge (Chaves) Roman Bridge of Catribana
Romania	Constantine's Bridge (Danube) Trajan's Bridge
Spain	Acueducto de los Milagros Albarregas Roman bridge Alconétar Bridge Aqueduct of Segovia Alcántara Bridge Les Ferreres Aqueduct Puente de Alcántara Puente Romano, Mérida Roman bridge of Ávila Roman bridge of Córdoba Roman bridge of Lugo Roman bridge of Salamanca Roman bridge of Talamanca de Jarama
Syria	Ain Diwar Bridge Bridge at Nimreh Gemarrin Bridge Kharaba Bridge
Turkey	Aesepus Bridge Arapsu Bridge Bridge at Oinoanda Constantine's Bridge (Mysia) Eurymedon Bridge (Aspendos) Eurymedon Bridge (Selge) Karamagara Bridge Kemer Bridge Limyra Bridge Misis Bridge Macestus Bridge Nysa Bridge Penkalas Bridge Pergamon Bridge Sangarius Bridge Severan Bridge Stone Bridge (Adana) Valens Aqueduct Bridge White Bridge (Mysia)
Full list of Roman bridges

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany
Geographic	Pleiades Structurae