In St. Petersburg, many places have a mystical history of existence. Since its inception, the Egyptian Bridge has been surrounded by legends and rumors. Their new surge occurred in 1905, after the unexpected collapse of the bridge. The causes of the catastrophe were so mysterious that they gave rise to dozens of versions - from rational to completely incredible and mystical, such as, for example, the warning of the sphinxes.
Egyptian bridge in St. Petersburg
Photo: oldsp.ru
All bridges of St. Petersburg are unique, but the Egyptian one has a special history. The bridge was called chain, as it hung on triple threads of metal chains. It was built in 1825-1826. engineers V. von Trotter and V. Christianovich. The bridge was decorated with figures of four sphinxes and an ornament of hieroglyphs, which is why the name Egyptian originated.
Catastrophe on the Egyptian Bridge, 1905
Photo: rufact.org
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On January 20, 1905, when a cavalry squadron was passing through the Egyptian bridge, the spans unexpectedly collapsed onto the ice of the Fontanka. The evening newspapers wrote: “Today at 12 ½ o'clock. days when the Life Guards Horse Grenadier Regiment was moving across the Egyptian Chain Bridge across the Fontanka, at the moment when the head of the regiment was already approaching the opposite bank, the bridge collapsed. The officers in front managed to slip ashore, while the lower ranks, in the number of two platoons, marching in formation on the right, three in a row, fell into the water with the horses. One dray truck and four passenger cabs without riders and several pedestrians also fell into the water … By 2 o'clock in the afternoon people and horses were pulled out of the water. The victims were sent to the nearest reception rooms and to the hospital of the Nikolaev artillery school. Seriously injured,according to official information, it was not."
Collapse of the Egyptian Bridge, 1905
Photo: offbeatpiter.ru
The chains broke, and the entire bridge was at the bottom of the river. Only four sphinxes remained in place on either side of the bridge. An investigation into the causes of the collapse began immediately. The first version was "structural fragility". However, the engineers objected to it, since since its inception, the bridge had already been repaired several times, in 1904 the repair work was carried out twice, after which they issued a verdict that the structure was in good condition.
Catastrophe on the Egyptian Bridge, 1905
Photo: cvavr.ru
The next version was the "swinging of the bridge by the cavalry" - the so-called resonance effect, which could arise as a result of rhythmic fluctuations from the coordinated step of the military. In all textbooks, the collapse of the Egyptian Bridge was mentioned as an example of the resonance effect. Allegedly, it was then that the command "Out of step!" Appeared, giving itself to any formation before entering the bridge.
Collapse of the Egyptian Bridge, 1905
Photo: oldsp.ru
However, eyewitnesses to the disaster unanimously argued that the soldiers were out of step, some were riding horses. Cabs were driving towards us, passers-by were walking along the sidewalk - there was no well-coordinated move, and the resonance effect in this case should not have arisen. After scientists made physical and mathematical calculations, this version seemed even more dubious. Modern experts explain the accident due to the insufficient strength of the metal in the cold.
Temporary bridge
Photo: rufact.org
When it was not possible to explain the collapse of the bridge with the help of scientific methods, folk imagination was connected. Versions from the mystical to the fantastic have been put forward. So, for example, a legend arose that the daughter of the postmaster Maria lived near the bridge, deceived and abandoned by the officer. One day she saw through the window how the same regiment in which her abuser served, and in her hearts she cried out: "May you, military men, fail!" However, the curse of poor Mary was not enough for popular rumor. They remembered that the bridge was faced with granite blocks removed from the walls of the moats of the Mikhailovsky Castle. And he enjoyed an ominous glory among the people - they said that the granite for the construction was taken from the places of ancient temples, which caused the wrath of the gods.
Egyptian bridge in St. Petersburg
Photo: rufact.org
And many blamed the sphinxes for everything that happened. And although they had nothing to do with Ancient Egypt, they were still popularly attributed to mystical power. They were said to sing funeral songs. The fact is that the chains on which the bridge was held did indeed make different sounds. Well, folk fantasy attributed these songs to the Sphinxes and endowed them with prophetic power.
Sphinx on the Egyptian Bridge in St. Petersburg
Photo: it.tourbina.ru
In 1954-1955. rebuilt a new Egyptian bridge and restored the sphinxes. In 1989, one of them was hit by a car and knocked into the water. In 2004, another restoration took place, the heads of the sphinxes were decorated with gilding - perhaps in order to return them to their original appearance, or perhaps in the hope that in this form they will no longer perform "funeral songs".