Sayburç

In the timeless embrace of history, Şanlıurfa stands, a tapestry woven over 12,000 years, whispered to be the ancient city of Ur. With pride, it cradles the echoes of civilizations that thrived upon its fertile soil. Once known simply as Urfa, it now wears the title “Şanlı,” or “Glorious,” a testament to its valiant spirit during the Turkish War of Independence.

Beneath the sun-kissed earth of Harran and Soğmatar, ancient chronicles unfold, revealing stories etched in time through diligent excavation. Monuments, long shrouded in the embrace of dust, are steadily resurrected, one layer at a time. Here, in Nevali-Çori, Neolithic settlements emerge, while the Chalcolithic relics of Kazane whisper tales from 5000 BC. In the Biris cemetery of Bozova, artefacts from 10,000 BC hint at even deeper roots. These explorations affirm Şanlıurfa’s noble status as a cradle of civilizations, with the promise that future excavations may unearth yet older narratives.

Known affectionately as the “Jerusalem of Anatolia,” Şanlıurfa thrives as a sacred nexus, revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. The Old Testament tells of Prophet İbrahim, the patriarch of three monotheistic faiths, born in the ancient Ur, who found refuge with his family in Harran, the “home of the patriarchs.”

Once, within its lands, a Hurrite city flourished in the second millennium BC, and many believe the prophet’s birthplace lies in a cave near the revered site of the Mevlid Halil Mosque, a place of veneration that continues to draw the faithful.

Atop a gentle crest, the ruins of a castle rise, adorned with two proud Corinthian columns. Below, the enchanting Halil-ür Rahman Mosque hugs the shores of Balıklıgöl lake, where sacred carps glide gracefully through the water. The 17th-century Ottoman Rıdvaniye Mosque and the Fırfırlı Mosque, once a Church of the Apostles, invite wandering souls, while the Archaeology Museum, a jewel among Türkiye’s treasures, showcases invaluable Neolithic and Chalcolithic artifacts from the Lower Fırat Region. To truly feel the spirit of Şanlıurfa, meander through the vaulted bazaar and linger in the charming courtyards of old hans, such as Gümrük Hanı and Barutçu Hanı.

The heart of the city beats alongside Balıklıgöl, comprised of the tranquil Halil-ür Rahman and Ayn-ı Zeliha lakes. Legend entwines with history here, where King Nemrut cast the young Abraham into flames, only for God to transform fire into water and kindling into fish, thus calling forth Halil-ür Rahman Lake. In a tale of tragic love, Zeliha, enamored by the prophet, leapt into the flames, which metamorphosed into the serene Ayn-ı Zeliha Lake.

Today, Harran, once a sacred city mentioned in the Old Testament, is famed for its unique beehive dwellings. Yet, it once bore the name Helenopolis, razed by Mongolian invaders in 1260. Its historical tapestry includes remnants of the oldest Islamic university, walls that echo whispers from the eighth century, fortifications, and a citadel, all telling of a glorious past, forever entwined in the soil of this ancient land.