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Information about Sanli Urfa and Harran, Turkey
Sanli Urfa, known as the City of Prophets, is a city in southeastern Turkey. It was known in
ancient times as Edessa, and as Urfa in recent years. The city is about 120 km east of Gaziantep, which has an airport, and there have recently been flights offered by Turkish
airlines to Sanliurfa itself. The city may also be reached by long distance coach.
Sanliurfa is situated on the site of an ancient Mesopotamian city of Assyria named Urhai. It has a long history due to its location in the great fertile plain of upper Mesopotamia. The archaeological and ethnographical museums exhibit finds of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic eras from the lower Euphrates region. The oldest ruin in Sanliurfa is the Throne of Nimrod, a 2nd- or 3rd-century citadel with two standing columns. The city was captured from the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, and later became known as Edessa. Controlled successively by local Arab rulers, the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire, Edessa was a Christian city by the end of the 3rd century AD, and numerous monasteries were built. In the 7th century Edessa came under Muslim control and remained so until Christian Crusaders captured the city in 1098. They made it the capital of the County of Edessa, a powerful Crusader state that survived until Turks sacked the city in the mid-12th century. For the next several centuries Edessa changed hands between Seljuks, Egyptian Mamluks, the Turkic conqueror Tamerlane, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1637 the Ottomans regained the city permanently. It was renamed Urfa by the Ottomans in the 15th century, and Sanliurfa (Turkish for "glorious Urfa") in 1983.
Sanliurfa hosts the cave, which is believed to be the birthplace of Abraham. The Mevlid Halil Mosque is also of another interest. Sanliurfa was praised as the city of the prophets Abraham, Hiob, Jethro and St. George. It is a holy city at the foot of a crusader castle and surrounded by mosques. The Halil Rahman Mosque is next to a pool, which is full of sacred carp. There is a legend about this pool, and it is said that a holy person of Islam was about to be burned at the stake by non-believers, but the logs turned into carp and the fire into water, and so "Balikli Göl" or "Fish Lake" was formed. On the other side of this pool, is the Ottoman Rizvaniye Mosque. The Firfirli Mosque, which was once the church of the Apostles is also worth a visit. A walk by the typical eastern bazaar and the old inns (hans), especially Gumruk Hani and Barutcu Hani, will take you back to the days of 1001 nights. Sanli Urfa Citadel and Ayn-i Zeliha Lake are other historical sites in the city.
Harran, which is 48 km south of Urfa, is definitely worth a visit while you are in the area. Harran is a place directly connected with the Bible. It is said that Abraham spent several years of his life in Harran. Harran is a fascinating little town. Beehive- shaped houses are built here and some are still occupied by families who may invite you for a look inside and to drink something cool. You should also visit the ruins of the ancient Harran Islamic University where many great Islamic scientists were educated. In addition the ancient city walls are still standing. Sogmatar and Suayb are other old historical cities.
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