Imagine being an adventurous traveler embarking on a European road trip, cruising over an ancient bridge that’s withstood the passage of over two millennia. Initially, trepidation might creep in as you guide your modern vehicle onto the ancient structure. But rest assured, this historical marvel has endured the relentless tests of time. Each stone laid by its long-gone engineers was meticulously placed to support weights far greater than what most traffic presents today. As Garrett Ryan, a classical-history enthusiast, elucidates in his recent Told in Stone video, builders of bygone eras relied on solid craftsmanship and prudence instead of scientific stress modeling.
The remarkable strength of these ancient bridges lies in their innovative use of arches, constructed from hefty stone blocks assembled upon temporary frameworks until the pivotal keystone was positioned. From the close of the first century onward, these workhorses of architecture saw the introduction of brick and Roman concrete—a renowned material often spotlighted for its resilience.
Some Roman bridges are still in use today. Take, for instance, Spain’s Puente de Alcántara, evolving from its Arabic name Al-Qantarah, meaning “arch.” This bridge, enduring the rumble of around 250,000 vehicles each year, remains unyielding. Or there’s France’s Pont des Marchands, which has been steadfastly holding up a community of shops and homes since the Middle Ages.
It’s not solely the arches that confer such formidable longevity. The enduring load-bearing ability of these remarkable structures hinges on the robustness of their abutments and the integrity of their voussoirs—the stones constituting the arches from the keystone at the peak to the bases. Roman architects engineered these voussoirs from the most durable stone resources at their disposal, resulting in impressive endurance. While the Puente de Alcántara isn’t built for freight trains, it comfortably accommodates 40-ton trucks, let alone families loaded with luggage and pets.
Explore Further:
- The Timeless Roman Roads and Bridges You Can Still Experience
- Unraveling the Enigma: The Durability of Roman Concrete
- Discovering the Elegance and Genius of the Pantheon, Rome’s Pristine Monument
- Secrets of the Pantheon’s Dome Longevity Revealed
- Imagining Ancient Roman Roads Through Modern Transit Maps
- Embark on an Educational Journey with Yale’s Free Roman Architecture Course
Written from Seoul, Colin Marshall delves into the nuances of cities, language, and culture. His endeavors comprise the Substack newsletter Books on Cities and his book, The Stateless City: A Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow his insights on Twitter at @colinmarshall or engage with him on Facebook.
