Urfa

Urfa, or Sanliurfa (“Glorious Urfa”), is a city in southeastern Turkey with a mixture of Turkish and Arabic cultures. The medieval buildings and lively bazaars make this an interesting city.

The first settlement dates back to 2nd millennium, where the earliest foundation was called Ursu, a name mentioned in Sumerian, Akkadian, and Hittite cuneiform texts. Hittites controlled the area around 1370 B.C. After a period of Assyrian rule, Alexander the Great came to the area. The name Edessa was given to the city in the Seleukos after the death of Alexander the Great. Edessa, on the border of Roman and Persian territory, was shuffled back and forth between the two powers. Edessa adopted Christianity at a very early date around 200 A.D. before it became the official religion of the state.

According to the Koran, Urfa (Edessa) was the birthplace of Abraham. The Pool of Abraham, full of carp regarded as sacred, is a refreshing place to visit. Ulu Cami, a mosque built under the Syrian influence, dates back to the 12th century. The Sanliurfa Museum houses finds from the rescue digs of the lower Euphrates dam project, which includes the huge Ataturk Dam about 40 miles north.

South of Urfa is Harran. known for its beehive-style mud built dwellings. These unique dwellings are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. During its rich past, Harran was the place where Abraham decided to move, the land of Canaan.

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