There is no certainty respecting the time when the Romans first used arches : If the Cloacae of Rome were really constructed in the time of the elder Tarquin, the use of arches must have then been well known; and from that prince's origin and connection, it is probable that they would be the labours of Tuscan workmen. It has been positively said by some, that the Romans received their knowledge of the arch from the Tuscans, who were at that time much farther advanced in the arts than their Italian neighbours. If this is admitted, the first knowledge of the arch is at least very intimately connected with Greece, the Tuscans being acknowledg ed as a colony of Dorians.
Whatever doubtful circumstances attend the claim to the invention of the arch, we know, from the best his torical evidence, that the Romans first applied it to works of general use, as in forming aqueducts for con veying water to large cities, constructing bridges over rivers, vaulting magnificent temples, and in erecting monuments for recording the actions of their greatest heroes.
We at present consider only their bridges. At or ad jacent to Rome, Gautier mentions eight bridges.
1. Pons .Elius, built by the Emperor Adrian, and named after him. It is said to have once had a cover of bronze supported by 42 columns. It is now called Sancto Angelo.
2. A triumphal bridge, the ruins of which arc now seen in the Tiber. The emperors and consuls passed over this bridge when they were decreed a triumph.
3. Pons Janiculensis, now Ponto Sixtus, it having been rebuilt by Pope Sixtus IV. in 1475.
4. Pons Cestius, at present St Bartholomew. It was rebuilt by the Emperor Valentinian.
5. Pons Fabricius, now Ponto Caspi.
6. Pons Scnatorius, at present Sancta Maria.
7. Pons Horatius, formerly Sublicius, built of stone by Horatius Cocles ; rebuilt by Emilius Lepidus ; the ruins are still seen in the Tiber.
8. Pons Milvius, which is about two miles out of Rome upon the Flaminian way.
Palladio gives a description of the bridge of Rimini, built by the Romans also upon the Flaminian way, which has five arches ; likewise that of Vicenza upon the Bachliglione, of three arches; and of one upon the Rerone, of three arches.
And Martinellis mentions a bridge near Narni, on the road from Rome to Loretto, built by Augustus. It consisted of four arches, the first 75 feet span and 102 high : the spans of the others were 135, 114, and 142 feet. This appears to be the most magnificent bridge the Romans constructed in Italy.
In the provinces the Romans built many bridges, some very magnificent. \Ve shall instance two in Spain, both in the province of Estremadura. That of Merida is upon the river Guadiana. Don Antonio Ponz, in his Viage de Espana, says he found its length 1300 paces ; Vargas reckons 64 arches. In the time of Philip III. one of the large arches towards the middle was destroy ed by an inundation, on which account three or four adjoining were rebuilt in 1610.
But perhaps the most magnificent of all the Roman bridges, and one of the noblest monuments of antiquity, is, the bridge of Alcantara upon the Tagus, at the town of that name. The town has probably taken its name from that structure, as the word alcantara, in the Arabic, signifies a bridge. It consists of six arches : its whole length is 670 Spanish feet, and from the bottom of the river to the road-way the height is 205 feet. For these Roman bridges, see Plate LXXXII.
Besides these ancient bridges which still exist, or are correctly described, we have accounts of many others ; as that of Darius upon the Bosphorus of Thrace, Xerxes upon the Hellespont, Pyrrhus upon the Adriatic Gulf, Caesar upon the Rhine, and Trajan upon the Danube ; but these were constructed for the temporary purposes of war. The descriptions are vague, some of them im probable, and they belong more to military than civil architecture.
The ancient aqueducts, which were magnificent, will be described under the head of INLAND Xavigation.
From the destruction of the Roman empire, to the establishment of modern Europe, it is in vain there to enquire for the progress, or expect the improvement of bridge building. In this, however, we ought to except the fine works of the Moors in Spain, particularly the bridge of Cordova over the Guadalquivir, built by Issim, the son and successor of Abduel Akman, the first of the Moorish kings of Spain.
When the arts began to revive in Europe, it was chiefly towards religious structures that power and influence were directed. One singular instance occurs of enthusiasm being directed to the useful purposes of improving the passages over rivers. Gautier, upon the authority of Magna Agricola of Aix, says, that upon the decline of the second, and commencement of the third race of kings, the state fell into anarchy ; and that there was no security for traN ellers, particularly in passing rivers, where violent exactions were made by banditti. To put a stop to these disorders, sundry persons formed themselves into fraternities, which became a religious order, under the title of Brothers of the Bridge. The object of thia insitution was to build bridges, establish ferry boats, and receive travellers in their hospitals on the shores of rivers. The first establishment was upon the Durance, at a dangerous place named Maupas; but in consequence of the accommodation arising from this establishment, the same place acquired the name of Bonpas. He relates further, that St Benezet, who pro posed and directed the building of the bridge of Avignon, was a shepherd, and that he was not twelve years of age when repeated revelations from heaven commanded him to quit his flock and undertake this entcrpize ; that he arrived at Avignon just at the time the bishop was preaching to fortify the minds of the people against an eclipse of the sun, which was to happen the same day. Benezet raised his voice in the church, and said he was come to build a bridge. His proposition was accepted by the people with applause, but rejected with contempt by the magistrates, and by those who thought them selves wisest. As it was at that time an act of piety to build bridges, and Avignon being then a popular repub lic, the people prevailed, and every one contributed to the good work, some by money, and some by labour, all under the direction of Benezet, aided by the bro thers. And he, by perfuming a great number of mira cles, animated the zeal of every body. Upon the third pier was erected a chapel to St Nicholas, protector of those who navigate rivers. This was done after the death of Benezet, which happened in 1184. His tomb became celebrated for pilgrimages, where many miracles were performed. lie had taken care to establish a con ventual house, and a hospital, leaving the brothers to con tinue the work of the bridge.