Pons Aerarius

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography

PONS AERA´RIUS in Gallia Narbonensis, is placed in the Jerusalem Itin. on the road from Nemausus ( Nîmes) to Arelate ( Arles), at the distance of xii. from Nemausus and viii. from Arelate. The Antonine Itin. marks xix. from Nemausus to Arelate in one distance. The road must therefore have been straight between these two places. D'Anville fixes the Pons at Bellegarde, where there is a bridge over a canal which comes from the Rhone at Ugernum ( Beaucaire) and extends to Aigues Mortes. This canal separates the old dioceses of Nîmesand Aries, and probably divided the territories of Nemausus and Arelate. D'Anville conjectures that the name Aerarius may be owing to the fact that a toll was paid at the bridge, which was a common practice in the Roman period. (Dig. 19. tit. 2. s. 60.8: Redemptor ejus pontis portorium ab eo exigebat.)
[G.L]

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