Severan Bridge, Roman bridge in Adıyaman Province, Turkey
The Severan Bridge is a Roman stone arch bridge that crosses the Cendere River near the ancient city of Arsameia. The structure stretches 120 meters with a central stone arch reaching 34 meters in height and features the typical design of late Roman engineering.
The Legio XVI Gallica built this bridge in the late 2nd century AD to replace an earlier Roman structure from Emperor Vespasian's reign. It served as an important crossing point along a major transportation route under Roman control.
Four Corinthian columns once honored Emperor Septimius Severus and his family on this bridge. Today visitors can still observe the carefully crafted capitals that show the craftsmanship of that era.
The footbridge is accessible to pedestrians today while a modern bridge built 500 meters east handles current vehicle traffic. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as the stone surface is uneven and weathered in places.
This bridge holds one of the second-largest surviving Roman arch spans at around 34 meters wide, demonstrating Roman engineering skill under challenging geographic conditions. Visitors often overlook how precisely the stone blocks were cut and fitted together to achieve this impressive span.
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