Gemarrin Bridge

Gemarrin Bridge
Remains of the Gemarrin Bridge, view from southeast
Coordinates32°32′58″N 36°29′46″E / 32.549389°N 36.496028°E / 32.549389; 36.496028
CarriesRoman road to As-Suwayda
CrossesWadi Zeidi
LocaleClose to Bosra, Syria
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialBasalt blocks
No. of spans3
Location
Map

The Bridge of Gemarrin is a Roman bridge in the village of Jemarrin near the ancient city of Bosra in southern Syria. The bridge belonged to the Roman road to Soada Dionysias (As-Suwayda), crossing the Wadi Zeidi some kilometers north of Bostra.[1]

Today, the structure presents itself essentially as an arch skeleton: while the three semi-circular arches, made from local basalt, are still extant, the roadway and the fill have been removed to expose the top of the arch vaults.[2] Obliquely running embankments on both sides of the wadi force the water in the river bed under the bridge.[3]

At least two other Roman bridges over the Wadi Zeidi, the Kharaba Bridge and the one At-Tayyibeh, have survived to this day.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kissel & Stoll 2000, p. 110, Fig. 1b
  2. ^ Kissel & Stoll 2000, p. 116, Fig. 11
  3. ^ Kissel & Stoll 2000, p. 117

Sources

  • Kissel, Theodor; Stoll, Oliver (2000), "Die Brücke bei Nimreh. Ein Zeugnis römischer Verkehrspolitik im Hauran, Syrien", Antike Welt, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 109–125