Читать книгу Ruins of Ancient Cities (Vol. 1 of 2) - Charles Bucke - Страница 9

This town (in Spain) was built by the Moors, who gave it the name it bears; which, in the Moorish language, signifies a bridge; and this bridge shows that the original city belonged to the Romans in the time of Trajan; for on one of the arches is this inscription: —

IMP. CAESARI, D. NERVAE, F

NERVAE. TRAIANO. AVG

GERM. DACICO

PONT. MAX. TRIB. POTEST. VIII

IMP. VI. COS. V. P.P

Formerly there were four pieces of marble, fixed in the walls of the bridge; in each of which there was an inscription, containing the names of the several towns and districts, that contributed towards the expense of making it. Three of these marbles are lost; but the fourth remains, and bears the following inscription: —

MVNICIPIA

PROVINCIAE. LVSITAN

STIPE. CONFLATA

QVAE. OPVS

PONTIS. PERFECERVNT

IGAEDITANI

LANCIENSES. OPIDANI

TALORI

INTERAMNIENSES

COLARNI

LAOCIENSES. TRANSCVDANI

ARAVI

MEIDVBRIGENSES

ARABRIGENSES

BANIENSES

PAESVRES

At the entrance of the bridge there is a small temple, cut in the rock, by the same person that built the bridge. The roof of this temple consists of two large stones. In the temple there is an inscription to the following effect: – "It is reasonable to imagine, that every one, that passes this way, would be glad to know the name of the person that built this bridge and temple; and with what intent they were made, by cutting into this rock of the Tagus, full of the majesty of the Gods, and of Cæsar, and where art showed itself superior to the tough and stubborn matter that resisted her. Know, then, that it was that noble architect Lacer, who built this bridge, which will last as long as the world. Lacer, having finished this noble bridge, made and dedicated this new temple, with sacrifices, to the gods, in hopes of rendering them propitious to him, for having honoured them after this manner. This temple he dedicated to the gods of Rome, and to Cæsar; looking upon himself to have been extremely fortunate, in having been able to make so just and proper a sacrifice.10"