Severan Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Severan Bridge located near the ancient city Arsameia (today Eskikale), 55 km (34.2 mi) north east of Adıyaman
in southeastern Turkey
, is a Roman bridge
. It is spanning Cendere Çayı (Chabinas Creek), a tributary of Kahta Creek on the provincial road 02-03 from Kahta
to Sincik
in Adıyaman Province
.
The bridge is constructed of 92 stones, each weighing about 10 tons as a simple, unadorned, single majestic arch
on two rocks at the narrowest point of the creek. At 34.2 m (112.2 ft) clear span, the structure is quite possibly the second largest extant arch bridge by the Romans. It is 120 m (393.7 ft) long and 7 m (23 ft) wide.
The bridge was built by four Kommagenean cities in honor of the Roman Emperor
Lucius Septimius Severus
(193–211), his second wife Julia Domna
and their sons Lucius Septimius Bassianus Caracalla
and Publius Septimius Antoninius Geta
as emanating from an inscription in Latin
on the bridge. The Legio XVI Gallica
, garrison
ed in the ancient city Samosata
(today Samsat) to begin a war with Parthia
constructed the bridge. There were originally four Corinthian column
s on the bridge, two columns on the Kahta side dedicated to Septimius Severus himself and his wife, and two another columns on the Sincik side dedicated to Caracalla and Geta, all in 9–10 m in height. But the column of Geta was removed following his assassination by Caracalla, who damned his memory and ordered his name to be removed from all inscriptions.
The Severan Bridge is situated within one of the most important national park
s in Turkey, which contains Nemrut Dağı with the famous remains of Kommagene civilization on top, declared as World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO
. In 1997, the bridge was restored. Vehicles up to 5 tons only are allowed to pass over the bridge. 500 m (546.8 yd) east of it, a road bridge has been built now.
Adiyaman
Adıyaman is city in southeastern Turkey, capital of the Adıyaman Province. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Turkey...
in southeastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, is a Roman bridge
Roman bridge
Roman bridges, built by ancient Romans, were the first large and lasting bridges built. Roman bridges were built with stone and had the arch as its basic structure....
. It is spanning Cendere Çayı (Chabinas Creek), a tributary of Kahta Creek on the provincial road 02-03 from Kahta
Kahta
Kâhta is a large district of Adıyaman Province of Turkey. Population 63,216 . The mayor is İbrahim Yusuf Turanlı .Kâhta is a small town in attractive countryside at the foot of Nemrut Dağı and has a thriving business providing food, accommodation and transport to people visiting the mountain...
to Sincik
Sincik
Sincik is a remote district of Adıyaman Province of Turkey with a population of 4,262. The mayor is Hasari Altıntel .Sincik is a poor rural community beyond the town of Kahta. It is reached by a single-track province road across the Roman built Severan Bridge crossing the Cendere Creek, over high...
in Adıyaman Province
Adiyaman Province
Adıyaman Province is a province in south-central Turkey. The province was created in 1954 out of part of Malatya Province. Area 7,614 km². Population 590,935 , up from 513,131 in 1990. The capital is Adıyaman....
.
The bridge is constructed of 92 stones, each weighing about 10 tons as a simple, unadorned, single majestic arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
on two rocks at the narrowest point of the creek. At 34.2 m (112.2 ft) clear span, the structure is quite possibly the second largest extant arch bridge by the Romans. It is 120 m (393.7 ft) long and 7 m (23 ft) wide.
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Lucius Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
(193–211), his second wife Julia Domna
Julia Domna
Julia Domna was a member of the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire. Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and mother of Emperors Geta and Caracalla, Julia was among the most important women ever to exercise power behind the throne in the Roman Empire.- Family background...
and their sons Lucius Septimius Bassianus Caracalla
Caracalla
Caracalla , was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. The eldest son of Septimius Severus, he ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta until he murdered the latter in 211...
and Publius Septimius Antoninius Geta
Publius Septimius Geta
Geta , was a Roman Emperor co-ruling with his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209 to his death.-Early life:Geta was the younger son of Septimius Severus by his second wife Julia Domna...
as emanating from an inscription in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
on the bridge. The Legio XVI Gallica
Legio XVI Gallica
Legio sexta decima Gallica was a Roman legion. The legion was recruited by Octavian in 41/40 BC, and was disbanded after surrendering during the Batavian rebellion ; Emperor Vespasian created a new legion, the XVI Flavia Firma. The emblem of the legion was probably a lion....
, garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
ed in the ancient city Samosata
Samosata
Samosata was an ancient city on the right bank of the Euphrates whose ruins existed at the modern city of Samsat, Adıyaman Province, Turkey until the site was flooded by the newly-constructed Atatürk Dam....
(today Samsat) to begin a war with Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
constructed the bridge. There were originally four Corinthian column
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
s on the bridge, two columns on the Kahta side dedicated to Septimius Severus himself and his wife, and two another columns on the Sincik side dedicated to Caracalla and Geta, all in 9–10 m in height. But the column of Geta was removed following his assassination by Caracalla, who damned his memory and ordered his name to be removed from all inscriptions.
The Severan Bridge is situated within one of the most important national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
s in Turkey, which contains Nemrut Dağı with the famous remains of Kommagene civilization on top, declared as World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. In 1997, the bridge was restored. Vehicles up to 5 tons only are allowed to pass over the bridge. 500 m (546.8 yd) east of it, a road bridge has been built now.
External links
- Livius.org: Cendere bridge
- Traianus – Technical investigation of Roman public works