The Severan Bridge (also known as Cendere Bridge) is a Roman bridge located near the ancient city of Arsameia (today Eskikale), 55 km northeast of Adıyaman in southeastern Turkey. It spans the Cendere River, which was known as Chabines in antiquity. Built by the Sixteenth Roman Legion stationed at Samosata (Samsat) in the last years of the 2nd century AD, it replaced an earlier bridge probably built under the emperor Vespasian (AD 69-79). It is one of the best-preserved Roman stone bridges in Turkey.

Coordinates: 37° 55′ 56.64″ N, 38° 36′ 29.52″ E

The bridge, part of the road to Nemrud Daği, was constructed as a single-vaulted arch spanning two rocks at the narrowest point of the creek. With a span of 34.2 m, the structure is the second-largest extant arch bridge. It is 123 m long and 7.50 m wide.

Inscriptions on the bridge revealed that it was built by the XVI Flavia Firma, a Roman legion stationed in the ancient city of Samosata. The Sixteenth took part in the two campaigns of Lucius Septimius Severus (194 and 197-198), which culminated in the capture of the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon, and the re-establishment of the province of Mesopotamia. The area was reorganised, and the legion’s soldiers deployed there bridged the river Chabinas.

There were originally four columns located at each end of the bridge, erected by the four Commagenean cities (Samasata, Perre, Doliche and Germaniceia). The inscriptions on these columns state that the columns at the southeastern end of the bridge were dedicated to Septimius Severus and his wife Julia Domna, while the columns at the other end of the bridge were dedicated to their two sons, Geta and Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus. The latter eventually reigned as Caracalla (211-217), had his brother Geta killed and erased him from history. Geta’s column was, therefore, removed from the bridge after his assassination.

The Severan Bridge is located within one of Turkey’s most important national parks. It contains Nemrut Dağı, with the famous remains of the large statues dedicated by King Antiochus Theos of Commagene. UNESCO declared it a World Cultural Heritage site.

Until recently, cars and small trucks weighing up to 5 tons were allowed to cross the bridge. The bridge was restored in 1997, and another road bridge was built 500 m to the east. The Severan Bridge is now closed to all but pedestrians.