• ‘Unknown’ Bridge

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August 11, 2022 by   

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Title

'Unknown' Bridge

Location

40.37216, 29.99650

Dating

582-602 (cf. monogram)

Measurements

L: ca. 120 m

Abutments, Piers, Arches

It is almost impossible to reconstruct the bridge as it was heavily devastated; one of the mighty piers is upside-down. Like Justinian‘s bridge over the Sangarius, the piers had triangular breakwaters on the downstream side and rounded ones on the upstream.

Material and Technique

Constructed of enormous well-dressed limestone blocks (from the stone quarry to the north of the bridge), connected with metal clamps. Wooden posts that supported the piers are visible on-site.

Donors

Emperor Maurice (r. 582-602)

Inscription

The keystone of an arch contains a monogram of, most probably, 'Maurikios.'

Current Condition

Recently discovered by Nurfeddin Kahraman, Refik Arıkan, and their team from Bilecik University.

Metadata created by

Galina Fingargova

Image by

Galina Fingarova

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