The bridge is constructed as a simple, unadorned, single
arch on two rocks at the narrowest point of the creek. At clear span, the Cendere bridge is the
longest known extant Roman arch bridge. The bridge was rebuilt by the
Legio XVI Gallica,
garrisoned in the ancient city of
Samosata (today
Samsat) to begin a war with
Parthia.
Commagenean cities built four
Corinthian columns on the bridge, in honor of the
Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus (193–211), his second wife
Julia Domna, and their sons
Caracalla and
Publius Septimius Geta as stated on the
inscription in
Latin on the bridge. Two columns on the Kâhta side are dedicated to Septimius Severus himself and his wife, and two more on the Sincik side are dedicated to Caracalla and Geta, all in 9–10 m in height. Geta's column, however, was removed after his assassination by his brother Caracalla, who
damned Geta's memory and ordered his name to be removed from all inscriptions. The Severan Bridge is situated within one of the most important
national parks in Turkey, which contains
Nemrut Dağı with the famous remains of Commagene civilization on top, declared as
World Cultural Heritage site by
UNESCO. The bridge has been in continuous use since its construction. In 1997, the bridge was restored. Vehicular traffic was restricted to 5 tons or less. The bridge is now closed to vehicles, and a new road bridge has been built east of the old bridge. == See also ==