The whole world is a narrow bridge
Posted by Ron Coleman on May 8, 2007
“And the only thing is not to be afraid.” This is the most famous and perhaps most brilliant expression wisdom of the great, esoteric and often puzzling hasidic master, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
But by all means get the bridge right! The New York Times looks at the extraordinary narrow bridges of the Incas, which completely befuddled the Europeans who conquered and ultimately extinguished them:
Dr. Ochsendorf, a specialist in early architecture and engineering, said the colonial government tried many times to erect European arch bridges across the canyons [of Peru], and each attempt ended in fiasco until iron and steel were applied to bridge building. The Peruvians, knowing nothing of the arch or iron metallurgy, instead relied on what they knew best, fibers from cotton, grasses and saplings, and llama and alpaca wool.
The Inca suspension bridges achieved clear spans of at least 150 feet, probably much greater. This was a longer span than any European masonry bridges at the time. The longest Roman bridge in Spain had a maximum span between supports of 95 feet. And none of these European bridges had to stretch across deep canyons.
Great bridges across great chasms. But you still have to not be afraid!
May 8, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Spesaking of bridges, one of the most delightful novels I’ve ever read is Winter’s Tale, by Mark Helprin. It involves a plan by a most unusual architect to build a most unusual bridge.
May 8, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Typos are invisible until posted.
May 9, 2007 at 7:29 am
Bill’s last comment made my day. Now maybe I don’t have to blame myself for the many typos in my comments.
November 27, 2007 at 12:32 am
Man about whom the niggun is composed:”Becho, Rabbeinu, nagila venismecha bah” should not be buried in the Third World dirt-poor country but in Yerushalaim, on Har Hamenuhos, where Thiyas Hameisim will come out.
He will have company on the way, Lev — kodoshim all. — RDC