Kızılin Köprüsü

Referred to as Singas in ancient sources and Nahr el Azra in Arabic sources, Kızılin Köprüsü is among the significant touristic values of Adıyaman and is located 55 kilometers away from Adıyaman. The bridge is within the borders of Kızılin Village in the Besni district. Access to the bridge is available from both the Besni district and the Adıyaman city center. After reaching Kızılin Village, a two-kilometer trail leads to the western pier of the bridge. Kızılin Köprüsü is situated over the Göksu River, 4.7 kilometers inland from the point where the Göksu River joins the Euphrates. The bridge is located within the Roman road system leading from Samosata to Zeugma. In the Inventory of Historical Bridges According to Regions prepared by the General Directorate of Highways, Bridges Department, Historical Bridges Branch Directorate of the Ministry of Transport, Kızılin Köprüsü is seen as one of the two Roman bridges in Adıyaman, along with Cendere Köprüsü. The construction technique of the bridge resembles that of Cendere Köprüsü and is thought to have been built in the 2nd century AD during the Roman period. With an arch span of thirty-one meters, Kızılin Köprüsü is 77 meters long, 13.50 meters high, and 7.5 meters wide. Kızılin Köprüsü is a three-arched bridge. Each of the stones used in the construction of the bridge weighs between one and one and a half tons. With a main arch span exceeding 30 meters and its architectural structure, the bridge is compared to Ponte d'Augusto (Augustus Bridge) in Narni, Italy. There are mason's marks, graffitos, and Arabic inscriptions on the blocks on both the eastern and western sides of the bridge. Continuing to maintain its feature as a transition point during the medieval period, the bridge underwent renovations at that time. The renovation carried out is stated in Arabic letters on a construction inscription on the eastern part of the Göksu River as follows: Azim-ül Cesim-ül Mühimmat; El bina-ül kavmülat; Beynel Keysüm-ül Samusat. By the late 19th century, the bridge was blown up by villagers as a result of a dispute between villagers on both banks of the Göksu River, and the bridge's 32-meter-long middle arch was demolished. 200 years after the destruction of the bridge, a restoration tender was held by the 8th Elazığ Regional Directorate of Highways, and restoration works have been ongoing since 2017. References Bilgin-Altınöz, A. G., & Şahin-Güçhan, N. (2018). Adıyaman Taşınmaz Kültür Varlıkları Envanteri. Ankara: Adıyaman Valiliği, Adıyaman Belediyesi, Kalkınma Bakanlığı GAP İdaresi; Kabasakal-Coutignies, S., & Öztepe, E. (2017). Singas’tan Kızılin’e Anıtsal bir Köprü. In: N. Şahin-Güçhan (Editor) Kommagene Nemrut Yönetim Planı (pp. 398-417). Ankara: Baskı Pozitif Matbaa.