Yibna Bridge

Yibna Bridge
Coordinates 31°54′N 34°42′E / 31.9°N 34.7°E / 31.9; 34.7Coordinates: 31°54′N 34°42′E / 31.9°N 34.7°E / 31.9; 34.7
Crosses Nahal Sorek
Locale Yibna, Israel
Official name Yibna Bridge
Characteristics
Design Arch
Total length 48 metres
Width 11.5 metres
History
Opened 1273–74 CE

The Yibna Bridge is a Mamluk arch bridge near Yibna, which crosses the river Nahal Sorek (formerly known as Nahr Rubin, or Wadi al-Tahuna). It was previously used by Route 410 to Rehovot, and was known as the Jumping Bridge due to a bump in the middle of the bridge which caused cars to jump if speeding.[1] It is now a part of a recreation ground, next to a new bridge carrying the Route 410.

History

The downstream-facing side of the bridge in 2010

The bridge was one in a series of bridges built by Sultan Baybars in Egypt and Palestine. It was first studied in modern times by Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau, who noted that an Arabic chronicle had referred to the construction by Baybars in 672 AH of two bridges build of a significant nature "in the neighbourhood of Ramleh". The chief purpose of these bridges was to ease communication for his armies between Egypt and northern Syria.[2] The second of these two bridges is thought to be the Jisr Jindas.[2]

According to Clermont-Ganneau, the bridge was built in 671–672 AH (1273–1274).[3] The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land cites the completion date as 1273.[4]

Max van Berchem, who examined it in the late 19th century, found that the bridge contained large amount of reused Crusader masonry, some of which carried mason´s marks.[5]

Description

The bridge is 48 metres (157 ft) long, and 11.5 metres (38 ft) wide.[6] It comprises three arches, two central piers with triangular upstream-facing cutwaters and downstream-facing buttresses with sloping cills.[7]

It is very similar in design to the more well-known Jisr Jindas, apart from the width of the piers.[7] The bridge has a more than 2:1 arch-span to pier-width ratio versus approximately 1:1 at Jisr Jindas.[7]

The bridge does not contain any decoration or inscriptions, similar to that found on Jisr Jindas. However, according to Andrew Petersen there is "a possible inscription or signature" on a stone at the south end.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jacobs, Daniel; Shirley Eber; Francesca Silvani (1998). Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Rough Guides. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-85828-248-0.
  2. 1 2 Clermont-Ganneau, 1896, ARP II, pp. 110–117
  3. ↑ Clermont-Ganneau, 1896, ARP II, p. 174; Reinecke, 1992, II, 38 No. 170. Both cited in Petersen, 2001, p. 318
  4. ↑ Levy, 1995, p. 517
  5. ↑ Clermont-Ganneau, 1896, ARP II, p. 182 Also cited in Petersen, 2001, p. 318
  6. ↑ Petersen, 2001, p. 318
  7. 1 2 3 4 Petersen, 2008, p. 297

Bibliography

  • Clermont-Ganneau, Charles Simon (1896). [ARP] Archaeological Researches in Palestine 1873–1874, translated from the French by J. McFarlane. 2. London: Palestine Exploration Fund.
  • Levy, Thomas Evan (1995). Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land. A&C Black. ISBN 0718513886.
  • Meinecke, M. (1992): Die mamlukishe Architecktur in Agypten und Syrien, 2 vols., Gluckstadt.
  • Petersen, Andrew (2001). A Gazetteer of Buildings in Muslim Palestine: Volume I (British Academy Monographs in Archaeology). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780197270110.
  • Petersen, A. (2008): Bridges in Medieval Palestine, in U. Vermeulen & K. Dhulster (eds.), History of Egypt & Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid & Mamluk Eras V, V. Peeters, Leuven

Coordinates: 31°51′51.78″N 34°44′44.06″E / 31.8643833°N 34.7455722°E / 31.8643833; 34.7455722

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