Ancient place of cult dedicated to
Esculapio the God of the medicine, whose snake, was
carried to Rome from Epidauro in order to vanquish a
terrible plague in 293 b.C..
The snake slid from the boat, swam
upstream, and made the island its home. As this was
clearly a sign of divine intent a temple was built in
honour of Esculapio.
The island's shape suggests a ship
and an obelisk was placed in the middle for a mast.
To the Temple the first hospital of Rome was annexed,
whose intense activity continues to our days. The Tiberine
Island is connected to the mainland by two bridges.
The first one is Cestio Bridge raised
in 46 b. C. by Lucio Sestio. It has bwas rebuilt in
the 19th century using the original stone. The second
is Fabricio bridge, also known as the Bridge of "four
heads " on account of the Hermes with four heads
set at the far end. Built by Lucio Fabricio in 62 b.C.
It has been preserved intact even
if the periodic flood of the Tiber river caused many
restorations; the smaller arch served as a passage for
the water when the river was in flood. In the Middle
Ages was known as "Bridge of the Jews" for
its proximity to the Jewish Ghetto. |
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