The city of Urfa (Sanli Urfa), dates back to the second millennium B.C. when it may have been the capital of a Human state. It has been known variously as Orrhoé, Orhai, and Osrhoene. One of the early Christian communities developed here. Their language was not Greek but rather Syriac. According to the early church historian Eusebius, the first church in Edessa began when Jesus answered a plea for help from the king, Abgar. Thus the community claims to be pre-crucifixion in its origin.
According to tradition, Nimrod had Abraham immolated on a funeral pyre, but God turned the fire into water and the burning coals into fish.
In the second century A.D. a member of that community, Tatian, produced a Syriac “harmony” of the Gospels which was used in the church there. For fifty years Crusaders held the area in the twelfth century and built a citadel. Within the citadel are two columns on one of which there is a Syriac inscription.
These were part of the winter palace of King Abgar. A spring at the foot of the citadel feeds pools of fish sacred carp, according to Muslim tradition. This tradition also states that Abraham stopped here. No remains of any great antiquity are visible In the city although there is a thirteenth century square minaret and a seventeenth century Islamic religious school, the Adb-er Rahman medresesi.
The mosque built on the site where prophet Abraham is believed to have been born.
Many mosques in this town, and this is one to visit,
The pools with the carp were fun but the park around it was just lovely. They lit up the trees and pathways at night and it's quite beautiful. They also light up the pillars above the park as well as the Pool of Abraham's architecture. If you are in Sanliurfa, it's not to be missed.
Much older than Stonehenge. An archeological site with stone circles, with beautiful carvings. Read about it before you get there, take a guide, or even better talk to the custodians. Incredible.
Balıklı Göl is at the heart of Sanliurfa, where everybody who visits the city stops by. The well designed recreation area where Balıklı Göl is top attraction with its sacred fishes, below the Castle of Edessa has many historic religious sites , another legendary pool, Ayn-i Zeliha, several mosques, cafes, amphiteather, a cave where Prophet Abraham believed to be born…
this place is amazing. It was the highlight of a recent jaunt through SE Turkey. The energy of the place, the complexity of the carving, the extreme age (12K years old) and the mystery are unforgettable. Totally worth a trip to Urfa just for this.
just be aware that if you are a geek like me you will need at…
At the çarsi, we are just a couple of feet in when we stop at a fabric shop, the owner a friend of Salims. Dursun spends half an hour choosing fabric to be made into skirts for daughters and daughter in laws. This done, I am looking forward to nosing around and doing a bit of shopping of my own….
With whole family you will enjoy it you can listen the harmony
It is a real oasis in world you can see with naked eye. It is a very important place because of the prophet Abraham. It is the most important place and everyone visiting that region should visit.
The pools are nice, full of fish and situated in a nice, large park area. Very busy, with lots of people, but no cars.
Sanliurfa is a special city with a lot of history. Whether or not this was the place where Abraham was born (or died) or not, it is a very nice place to walk around and enjoy the colourful people. It is the only city in Turkey that has a lake in the middle of the city. Really enjoyable place!