The Arkadiko Bridge, located in Greece, is a living monument to the ingenuity of ancient engineers. Built around 1300 BC during the Mycenaean era, this remarkable structure was originally part of a military road network designed to support chariot traffic. Today, it stands as the oldest arch bridge in Europe still in use, and one of the oldest in the world.
Constructed using massive limestone boulders and employing a technique known as the corbel arch, the bridge has withstood more than 3,000 years of weather, wars, and time. The corbel arch technique where each stone is layered in a way that each new layer projects inward, forming a self-supporting arch was revolutionary for its time.
Against all odds, the Arkadiko Bridge continues to serve its original purpose, providing a direct route through the rugged landscape of the Peloponnese. It’s an awe-inspiring example of how ancient engineering, built with skill and purpose, can endure for millennia.
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