Yibna Bridge

The Yibna Bridge or Nahr Rubin Bridge is a Mamluk arch bridge near Yibna, which crosses the river Nahal Sorek (formerly known as Nahr Rubin, or Wadi al-Tahuna). It was previously used by Route 410 to Rehovot, and was known as the Jumping Bridge due to a bump in the middle of the bridge which caused cars to jump if speeding.[1] It is now a part of a recreation ground, next to a new bridge carrying the Route 410.

Yibna Bridge
Coordinates31°54′N 34°48′E
CrossesNahal Sorek
LocaleYibna, Israel
Official nameYibna Bridge
Characteristics
DesignArch
Total length48 metres
Width11.5 metres
History
Opened1273–74 CE
Location

History
The downstream-facing side of the bridge in 2010

The bridge was one in a series of bridges built by Sultan Baybars in Egypt and Palestine. It was first studied in modern times by Clermont-Ganneau, who noted that an Arabic chronicle had referred to the construction by Baybars in 672 AH of two bridges build of a significant nature "in the neighbourhood of Ramleh". The chief purpose of these bridges was to ease communication for his armies between Egypt and northern Syria.[2] The second of these two bridges is thought to be the Jisr Jindas.[2]

According to Clermont-Ganneau, the bridge was built in 671–672 AH (1273–1274).[3] The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land cites the completion date as 1273.[4]

Max van Berchem, who examined it in the late 19th century, found that the bridge contained large amount of reused Crusader masonry, some of which carried mason´s marks.[5]

Description

The bridge is 48 metres (157 ft) long, and 11.5 metres (38 ft) wide.[6] It comprises three arches, two central piers with triangular upstream-facing cutwaters and downstream-facing buttresses with sloping cills.[7]

It is very similar in design to the more well-known Jisr Jindas, apart from the width of the piers.[7] The bridge has a more than 2:1 arch-span to pier-width ratio versus approximately 1:1 at Jisr Jindas.[7]

The bridge does not contain any decoration or inscriptions, similar to that found on Jisr Jindas. However, according to Andrew Petersen there is "a possible inscription or signature" on a stone at the south end.[7]

See also
  • Barid, Muslim postal network renewed during Mamluk period (roads, bridges, khans)
    • Jisr al-Ghajar, stone bridge south of Ghajar
    • Daughters of Jacob Bridge (Jisr Banat Yaqub), Mamluk bridge on the upper Jordan River
    • Al-Sinnabra Crusader bridge, with nearby Jisr Umm el-Qanatir/Jisr Semakh and Jisr es-Sidd further downstream
    • Jisr el-Majami bridge over the Jordan, with Mamluk khan
    • Jisr Jindas bridge over the Ayalon near Lydda and Ramla
    • Isdud Bridge (Mamluk, 13th century) outside Ashdod/Isdud
    • Jisr ed-Damiye, bridges over the Jordan (Roman, Mamluk, modern)

References
  1. Jacobs, Daniel; Shirley Eber; Francesca Silvani (1998). Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Rough Guides. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-85828-248-0.
  2. Clermont-Ganneau, 1896, ARP II, pp. 110–117
  3. Clermont-Ganneau, 1896, ARP II, p. 174; Reinecke, 1992, II, 38 No. 170. Both cited in Petersen, 2001, p. 318
  4. Levy, 1995, p. 517
  5. Clermont-Ganneau, 1896, ARP II, p. 182 Also cited in Petersen, 2001, p. 318
  6. Petersen, 2001, p. 318
  7. Petersen, 2010, p. 297

Bibliography

31°52′10.35″N 34°45′8.55″E

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