Ponte Ezzu

The Pont'ezzu is one of three Roman bridges for the crossing of the Rio Mannu in central Sardinia. Compared to much of the other Roman architecture in the area, the Pont’ezzu is extremely well preserved. Through the Middle Ages and up until the mid-20th century it was regularly used, and because of this, the Pont’ezzu tells us a lot about both Roman construction techniques as well as their assertion of power abroad (Amucano, 2012). Since its annexation after the punic wars, Sardinia and its people have strongly resisted romanization. The years leading up to Augustan rule were marked with famine, mismanagement, and multiple insurrection attempts (Wilson 1996). After Augustus rose to power in 27 BC, Sardinia underwent a large provincial reorganization in an effort to solve existing turmoil. However, the Romans were met with massive resistance and a large military presence on the island was required. Because of the multiple military camps in the surrounding area (Balmuth, 1992), archaeologists believe this bridge was intended to be for the transportation of troops across the island. Beyond this functional aspect, this was also an assertion of power, as there were very few existing Nuragic bridges (Balmuth, 1992). After its construction, Sardinians could only cross this major river via Roman bridges, further asserting power and strengthening the romanization project. The Pont’ezzu is a symbol of this roman control over not just the physical landscape, but also the movement of people and transportation of goods.