Arkadiko Bridge

On the way home from the Sanctuary of Asklepios (Epidavros), we took a slight detour to check out what is believed to be the oldest Mycenean bridge in Europe. The Mycenaean civilization existed prior to the Ancient Greek civilization, and consisted of mainland Greeks who were influenced by people in the Mediterranean and Crete.

The road to the bridge runs alongside an olive grove, as many of the roads we travelled do. I wasn’t driving as fast as the video shows – the first part of the video is sped up.
The Arkadiko Bridge was originally built around 1300 BC to connect the cities of Epidavros and Mycenae. Originally made for chariots, it is 22 m long, 5.6 m wide, and 4 m tall.
The bridge consists of large limestone boulders that are tightly fitted together.
Stability comes from the boulders being placed symmetrically on the vertical axis. There is no binding material.
Looking out from under the bridge. No trolls living here.

1 comments on “Arkadiko Bridge

  1. Our steel culverts need to replaces every thirty five years. Looks like stone culverts are still good after 3500; years. How much did it cost to build?

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