Pont Sublicius

The bridge Sublicius (“ bridge on wood pillars”), was at the same time the first and the oldest bridge of Rome. It was built above the the Tiber between 640 av. J. - C. and 616 av. J. - C. (under the reign of Ancus Marcius). It was destroyed several times and always rebuilt out of wood, for reasons as well religious as strategic (it was necessary that it can be dismounted quickly). Its last destruction goes back to 69 apr. J. - C.

Legendary episode

At the time of the war opposing the Roman to the Etruscan , at the beginning of the Republic, Horatius Coclès, a Romain, was put in rampart on the Sublicius bridge to prevent the access of Rome to the enemies. After having crossed it, it gave the order to break the bridge by all the possible ways and forced the last Etruscan warriors to fold up themselves. When the bridge was crashed to pieces, the hero threw himself in the armed Tiber and joined his comrades with the stroke.

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