Şanlıurfa: City of Prophets
Şanlıurfa, known as the City of Prophets, has a very rich and far reaching background, due to its location in the great fertile plain of upper Mesopotamia. The archeological and ethnographical museum exhibit finds of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic eras from the lower Euphrates region. You will notice a cave here, with several mosques around it. This cave is believed to be the birth-place of Abraham. The Mevlid Halil Mosque is also of another interest.
Şanlıurfa was praised as the city of the prophets Job (Hiob), Jethro and St. George, besides Abraham, who were said to have lived here.
It is a holy city with “Balıklı Göl” 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. The story about this pool is that Prophet Abraham was about to be burned by tyrannic king Nimrod and was set into fire but the logs around him turned into carp and the fire into water, so the “Balıklı Göl” was formed. On the other side of this pool, is the Ottoman Rizvaniye Mosque. The Fırfırlı Mosque, which was once the church of the Apostles, is worth a visit. A walk by the typical eastern bazaar and the old inns (Hans), especially Gumrük Han and Barutçu Han, will take you back to the days of 1001 nights. Şanlıurfa Citadel and Ayn Zeliha Lake are other historical sites in the city.
beehive houses on Turkey tours
Harran, 48 km south of Şanlıurfa, lets you visit 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. The beehive-houses that were built many years ago here are still occupied with families who may invite you for a look inside and to drink something cool. You should also visit the ruins of the biggest, ancient Harran Islamic University at which many great Islamic scientists were educated. Moreover, the ancient city walls are still standing. Sogmatar and Şuayb are the other old historical cities. You may find good accommodation with a picturesque view in Birecik where the Kelaynak Bird Festival (Wild Bald Ibis Festival) is held every year.
Recently a site known as Göbekli Tepe was soon discovered in southeastern Turkey and today it is accepted as the oldest temple in the world. It is located approximately 12 km (7 mi) northeast of the city of Şanlıurfa and before the discovery of this archaeological site, we used to think agriculture gave rise to cities and later to writing, art, and religion. Now the world’s oldest temple suggests the urge to worship sparked civilization.