GALLIA ROMANA

Database of texts and images
Of Gallo-Roman antiquities (15th-17th centuries)

Notice

Ville Vers-Pont-du-Gard (Gard, 30)
Subject(s) ‘Pont du Gard’
 
Author(s) Bèze, Théodore de
  Writer and protestant theologian (1519-1605)
Resource type Printed book
Date 1576
Inscription
References Bèze 1576, « In Pontis triplicis aquæductum... », p. 180
Bibliography

DLF XVIe siècle, pp. 142-143 ; Gardy 1960, pp. 6-7 ; Provost 1999-2, p. 736 ; Lemerle 2005, pp. 88-91

Remarks

The epigram on the monument was in included in the third edition of the Poemata. The poem met with much success; it was cited by Pontanus, Zinzerling, Gölnitz amongst others.The 'Pont du Gard' was probable the most universally admired Gallo-Roman monument

Transcription 

« Montibus impositos cantauit Græcia montes,

Pyramidum ostentat barbara Memphis opus
Plus est quod cernis, triplicis coniugere pontis
Fornicibus, montes sic potuisse duos.
Et plus est (victam quo se Natura fatetur)
Imposuisse ipsis flumina fluminibus.
Et rursum hoc plus est, contempto laudis honore.
Artificem nomen subticuisse suum.
Mire opifex, quod tu fecisti, sit licèt ingens,
Quod non fecisti, plus ego miror opus. »