Egyptian Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Egyptian Bridge showing sphinx chimera and sign

Egyptian Bridge (Египетский мост) in St. Petersburg, Russia, carries Lermontov Avenue over the Fontanka River.

The one-span suspension bridge that it replaced was of historical interest as a monument to early 19th-century Egyptomania. It was constructed in 1825-1826 based on designs by two civil engineers, Von Traitteur and Christianowicz. Its granite abutments were topped with cast-iron sphinxes and hexagonal lanterns. An unusual feature was a pair of cast-iron gates featuring Egyptian-style columns, ornaments, and hieroglyphics, with many details of the ironwork elaborately gilded.

The 1905 collapse

The original bridge, used by both pedestrians and horse-drawn transport, collapsed on January 20, 1905, when a cavalry squadron was marching across it. The present structure, incorporating sphinxes and several other details from the 19th-century bridge, was completed in 1955.

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Egyptian Bridge, Saint Petersburg.

Coordinates: 59°55′01″N 30°17′51″E / 59.91694°N 30.29750°E / 59.91694; 30.29750

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.