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.
A fascinating stoneage site. excavations are scheduled for this 12,000 year old site. There is a young guide who shows you around. For site security reasons you are not to walk around the site unaccompanied.
The cave of Abraham is a must see for every religion. It's a mystic place. There are indeed seperate entrances for genders. This has several reasons I think: people are praying inside the cave and since the muslim religion forbids that women pray in front of men they have found this solution. Otherwise it would be impossible for women to…
Duck into the cave and see many people coming to this pilgrimage site. It's also a point on the Abraham's Path, which stretches from 'womb to tomb' ending in Hebron many days to the south.
kids enjoyed the boat ride on The Pool or Lake, Quite Small to Be a Lake though. Also Stories of origin of the pool and Fish not in historical fact rather from tradition passed down the generations. But makes interesting hearing.
Walked up to the cave after seeing the holy carp pools. There were separate entrances for men and women, and you need to take off your shoes before going in. I caught a cold the day before and was so tired. Didn't want to go through the trouble of taking off my shoes and walking barefoot inside the crowded cave…
Though it is not huge site and remains are not spectacular as Egyptian temples or Stonehenge it is simply something you have to visit if you are in Urfa… and yes I agree – try to find something on internet about this site before go there… because there is no much explanations there since it is still live archeological site……
Be advised: Wear good shoes (its a fair walk from the parking lot up a dirt road and then around the exterior of the site), take an umbrella or wear a large-billed hat (no shade), and take plenty of water! This site is remote in many ways.
This site does provide a rare opportunity for the public to get up…
It was just a cave. Not much to see and it was a quick in and out. I was disappointed. The fish pool and gardens outside were much more interesting.
The pools of holy carp were interesting. You could buy some fish food and feed the fish. Our guide told us that the fish were protected. People were not allowed to catch or eat them, lest they risk being cursed. You can read up about the religious significance of the place. Towards the end of the pools there were separate…
Sanliurfa is a pilgrimage city, and I sure everyone knows the story of Abraham's confrontation with Nimrut and how the hot coals were turned into little fish, and that's why there are these ponds with the magic fish swimming around and around. But what you also get is a wonderful, quiet relaxing place to sit and drink tea, take pictures…