Stone Bridge (Adana)
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The great Stone Bridge of Adana (Turkish: Taşköprü) spans the Seyhan River in Adana, Turkey. It was originally built under Hadrian in the 2nd century.
Today, only 14 of the original 21 arches remain. Existing in an earthquake prone area, the bridge has been repaired many times over the centuries: in Justinian's time; in 742 C.E. under the Umayyad caliph al-Walid II, whose name it took (Jisr al-Walid); and in 840 under the caliph al-Mu'tasim. The bridge was a vital contribution to the trade routes throughout ancient Anatolia and Persia.
Taşköprü is one of the symbols of Adana and the oldest bridge in the world that is still in use today.
[edit] Further reading
- Colin O'Connor, Roman Bridges, Cambridge Univ. Press (1994) ISBN 0-521-39326-4
