Harran, a place of wisdom where time stands still… The subsoil of this desert-yellow earth is even richer than what is on the surface in this ancient city, for splendor at Harran goes back centuries. But vestiges of the past, hints of grandeur whispered by the stone, persist even today. History in Mesopotamia began and was written at Harran, the lands that produced Mesopotamia’s learned men and bequeathed them to humanity. While hundreds of places around the world were groping their way in the darkness of ignorance, Harran was a beacon of wisdom enlightening mankind.
The first university
The world’s first university was founded and generated knowledge at Harran. The millennia-old tower that still stands proudly among the extant remains of this lofty civilization that have withstood time’s depredations was where astronomical observations were made at chemistry. Still another prominent scholar that Harran produced is Thabit ibn Qurra. the university, a place of learned men who roamed the streets of heaven in pursuit of the stars shining in the darkness of night. Philosophy, logic, astronomy, geometry, law and medicine were the fundamental disciplines developed by Harran’s high-powered scholars. And the luminous relics of this city of learning stand today as a turning point in the history of mankind, a place where you can go and pay your respects on the vast, seemingly endless Harran Plain.
land of the great wise men becoming a center of learning in antiquity, Harran preserved its position in medieval times as well. Arab settlers who came to the region during the Islamic conquests rebuilt Harran. Undergoing rapid development under the Umayyads especially, Harran filled with palaces and became the administrative capital following Damascus. The city’s growth as a commercial, political and economic center paved the way to significant developments in the history of science as well. Besides being a focal point of the positive sciences, the city was also one of the Middle East’s leading centers for the Arabic language and grammar. The celebrated woman poet Rabiatü’l Adeviyye (Ümmü’l-Hayr), and learned men like Al-Battani, Jâbir ibn Hayyân and Thabit ibn Qurra, all of whom grew up in Harran, are a few of the figures to whom modern science owes so much.
Pioneering figures
Among the learned men produced at Harran, Al-Battani s one of the greatest names in the history of astronomy. Believing that the aim of all learning was to know Allah, Al-Battani said, “The stars we see, the earth on which we live and the motions of the universe are clear proof of the existence and oneness of the Great Creator.” The name of Al-Battani, the first Muslim learned man whose works were translated into Latin, has always been remembered with respect by European scholars and, as a token of that respect, was given to one of the craters on the Moon. This is why the name Albategnius appears on old Moon maps. Another important Harran scholar is Jâbir bin Hayyân, regarded as the father of modern
Conical houses
The conical houses that are an integral part of Harran still survive as one of the treasures of this region’s most spectacular architecture. Built to accommodate the local climate, these houses are under protection by the Turkish government today. With its original treasures and contributions to civilization, Harran awaits visitors as one of Turkey’s richest cultural regions.
Rising again
A center of culture and civilization for thousands of years, Harran today is rising again from its own ashes thanks to irrigation projects being developed in the region. Producing the world’s highest quality cotton, the fecundity of the fertile Harran Plain keeps a smile on the faces of the local people. Another center of attraction that produces knowledge in this land of the wise, Harran University is growing by the day. And the local handicrafts, which were on the verge of being lost, are being revived thanks to initiatives by the government as well as non-governmental organizations.
Harran mathematician and astronomer, Al-Battani
- He was the first to replace the Greek chord with the sine in geometry.
- He measured the apparent circumferences of the Sun and Moon.
- He developed a trigonometric method for calculating the values of all the angles from zero to ninety degrees.
- He developed a convenient and accurate method for calculating the degree of a lunar eclipse.
The biblical interest in Harran is as one of the residences of Abraham and his family. With his father, Terah, he moved here from Ur, and Terah died here. Part of Abraham’s family remained after he left for Canaan : he sent back there to find a wife for Isaac. Then later Harran was the place of refuge for Jacob when Esau was threatening to kill him. Jacob’s Well (Bi’r Yakub) a bit more than a kilometer west of the walls Is the source of drinking water for Harran and the neighboring villages as it was when Rebecca drew water for Abraham’s servant (Genesis 24) and when Jacob helped Rachel (Genesis 29:10) roll the stone off and water Laban’s sheep.
Abraham departs out of Haran by Francesco Bassano
Harran,Altinbasak,
If you're in this bit of Turkey, do go to Harran. But as soon as you step out of your vehicle, you will get picked up by a local guide who will go into an unstoppable spiel – yes, it's useful and interesting if you don't really know the history or the archaeology but some of what our young man…
Harran is just 50 km from Urfa. On the way you have to watch for the signs, since there are a few traffic signs only. We missed one,got lost, and ended up in a village just a couple of km from the Syrian boarder 🙂
It's is good to have a guide while in Harran. The guides are usually History…
Went there end of May. The weather was perfect. We were the only ones in the area. Saw the ruins of the castle and the first ever Islamic University. Visited one of the beehive houses and drank tea as the sun set. It used to be the driest, hottest and poorest part of Turkey, but recent irrigation works have trasnofrmed…
Harran area is famous for its differently shaped houses, vast plain lands, ancient ruins and more Arabic than Turkish culture. The remnants of the old Ulu Mosque are still very impressive. The houses create almost a medieval middle eastern atmosphere. There is a very touristic small courtyard surrounded by Harran type houses where you can dress yourself with Arabic clothes…
Located about 20 miles from the city of Şanlıurfa, Haran features some of the most unique dwellings (still in use) in Turkey. Constructed in the past few hundred years from mud bricks that were once part of the castle, the "beehive" homes are not only visually attractive but spacious, comfortable and extremely suited to the climate.
While I doubt that…
From Salinurfa, Harran is quite close and an easy day trip. Well, it's supposed to be one of the oldest inhabitated spot in the region, and it's definitely worth going if you made your way till Urfa. Still, I don't believe it's worth going is you don't want to go East.
If you go on your own, nothing difficult, mini…
We went to visit Harran for a second time (been there last year), this time in the morning, as you should expect very high temperatures in summer.
The people were friendly as always. Although we knew the place, we enjoy the ruins (a new pathway and terrace to enjoy the view have been built) and thereafter to one of the houses nicely furnished in original style with a beautiful garden. The houses – unchanged since 3.000 years- are perfect for this climate, cool in summer and warm in winter. Italians rebuilt them. You can drink the local, very strong coffee or other refreshments. The restauration of the ancient city walls is going on, but (for my taste) destroying the original structure…
Arranged day tour of area east of Sanliurfa with brilliant guide, Mustafa of Ugur hotel and his new VW minibus. It took 10hours and we saw amazing sites- one of our best days in 2 months of travel in Turkey. The area is less developed and you will not find many of the sites on your own.
A photo shows…
We visited Harran at the end of July when we were on a day trip to Sanliurfa from Gaziantep.
Its a very interesting and ancient town and the remaining beehive shape houses are amazing.
When you arrive at the town no doubt a group of teenagers will come to the car to see if you need a guide. A local…
The ruins of the world's first university and the first mosque to be built on Turkish soil are reason enough to come to Harran. Even if you haven't read your Bible (Harran is mentioned as early as Genesis 13) you can almost taste how old the town is.
The surreal looking beehive houses, although not dating back to the 4th…