Ancient Roman bridges and their social significance

Abstract

This article examines the narrative, epigraphic and legal textual sources to assess the social aspects and historical significance of ancient Roman bridges. Bridges are supposed to be not only utilitarian structures, but also monumental and highly sophisticated public projects for everyday usage by all inhabitants of the city, as well as suitable media for self-promotion by the emperors and senators involved. The main objective of this study is the visualization of ancient Roman bridges as historical objects full of military, religious and social connotations. Historical sources are analyzed and evaluated in order to establish whether the bridges of the Roman Empire could have been meant to impress inhabitants and visitors, travelers and residents alike with their size, grandeur, permanence and aesthetics, or whether they were only functional, strategic and costly structures, as well as to investigate if they served as suitable media for self-presentation of imperial power and senatorial class.