Low Water Levels in Tiber River Reveal Ancient Roman Bridge
2 sources across 2 countries · Italy · United States
Who reported this
- Corriere della Sera
- CNN
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Low water levels in Rome's Tiber river have exposed the remains of an ancient Roman bridge known as Nero's Bridge. The river's flow has fallen below 80 cubic meters per second, which is significantly lower than the typical average for July. The structure is believed to have been built around 39 AD during the reign of Emperor Caligula, though it is traditionally associated with Emperor Nero.
The bridge once connected the ancient Campus Martius area to the Circus of Nero, the site where St. Peter was martyred and where St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City now stand. The remnants are currently visible from the Bridge of Angels near Castel Sant' Angelo. While the structure re-emerges periodically during dry periods, such as in 2022, the current low levels have also revealed modern debris including e-bikes, scooters, and a car.
Reports on the event differ in their framing of the environmental cause. A center-left source frames the event as a major water crisis caused by scorching temperatures and a long dry summer. A center-right source describes the event more neutrally as a result of a scarcity of rain in recent weeks.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- Framed the low water levels as a major water crisis driven by extreme heat and drought.
- Centre-right
- Framed the event as a periodic occurrence resulting from a recent scarcity of rainfall.
Sources
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