Malabadi Bridge

The Malabadi Bridge is oriented east-west across the southward-flowing Batman River (see the panorama). 150 m in length, it is constructed of finely cut ashlar blocks of a creamy white limestone. The design is asymmetrical and divided into three sections due to the divergent nature of the terrain on the east and west banks. The first, western section approaches the west bank of the river at a southwestern orientation. With an angular turn, the middle section that comprises the main arch runs west, perpendicularly over the river. Several meters beyond the east bank, the bridge angles again to the southwest, with this third, eastern section running in parallel with the first. The bridge’s impressive breadth (7 m) provides a broad pathway for traffic along the upper surface. The pavement is made of irregularly sized ashlars, while the parapet walls—originally of iron—are built of rougher blocks.

The various traditional stone bridges of this region feature either round or pointed arches; the main arch of Malabadi is pointed and 19 m high at its apex. At 38.6 m, its span is one of the widest among comparable bridges: only the span of the arch of the ruined (and now submerged) bridge at Hasankeyf surpasses it. It covers the entire breadth of the river. Double rows of putlock holes for the wooden scaffolding used in its construction are visible on its intrados, near the springing on either side, below horizontal moldings. The arch, defined by a curving archivolt, is recessed about 15 cm from the bulk of the masonry. Small windows in the spandrels indicate the position of two interior chambers, accessed by way of a portal on the upper pathway; these austere spaces, about 4.5 x 5.3 m, were described by the traveler Evliya Çelebi (17^th century) as guest rooms for travelers (see the panorama; see further in “Early Publications”). The bridge’s middle section includes, to the west of the main arch, a 3-m-wide flood arch flanked by cutwaters on the north side and a single rounded pier on the south side. The western section is punctuated with three arches, increasing in size as the bridge ascends toward the main arch. The section on the rocky east side has only one small round arch.

The design of the bridge is elaborated through architectural and relief ornamentation, found primarily in the middle section west of the main arch. Of the two facades, the southern is the more ornate. Here, the flood arch is flanked by engaged columns with conical peaks crowned by geometric motifs. Blind arches on either side, along with the stringcourse above, suggest a decorative arcade. To the east of this unit stands a massive, rounded buttress. At the level of the arcade, the buttress slopes toward the wall, then continues upward in the form of pilaster topped with a rectangular niche. The relief sculpture within the niche is quite worn, but a sun-disc is clearly visible on top; the lower half appears to portray a quadruped animal, likely a lion.1 On the bridge’s north side, there is a corresponding buttress with a cutwater at its base; together, the pair of buttresses supports the area below the entrance to the western chamber, above which is a freestanding arch that serves as a kind of gateway onto the bridge. A slightly smaller cutwater on the north side stands on the opposite side of the flood arch and bears a figural group above it. The blocks above its apex have been carved into the form of a stocky human figure. The rectangular panel at its top frames a relief depicting two further figures wearing pointed caps, one standing and one perhaps sitting. They extend their arms toward each other in a gesture of unclear significance.

• 1. Cf. Fügen 1976, 101.