Items - Architecture and Asceticism

Harran Gate, one of the south gates into the old city of Urfa

The Harran gate is built around the original late antique gate and incorporates late antique elements as well as Seljuk sculpture. These views show bot the north and south sides of the gate.

Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Defensive Network, Edessa, Gate, Harran, Late Antique, Sculpture, Seljuk, Turkey, Urfa, Wall

The Fishponds of Abraham

Abraham's Fishponds (Balikli Göl), viewed from Urfa Citadel.

Type: Architecture
Tags: Abraham, Architecture, Edessa, Fishponds, Turkey, Urfa

Justinian's Aqueduct

View of Justinian's C6th aqueduct looking across from the Millet Bridge.

Type: Architecture
Tags: Aqueduct, Architecture, C6th, Edessa, Justinian, Turkey, Urfa

Ulu Cami is the great mosque of Urfa and was built 1170-1175. It is believed by some legends to be the site where the Mandylion was thrown down a well and has been associated with the ancient church of St. Stepanos.

Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, C12th, Capital, Church, Edessa, Mosque, St. Stepanos, Turkey, Ulu Cami, Urfa, Well

Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The Syrian Orthodox Church of SS. Peter and Paul has dedicatory inscriptions dated 1861 on the west entrance but appears to include elements of an older church. It is now called the Vali Kemalettin Gazezoğlu Cultural Centre.

Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, C19th, Church, Edessa, Inscription, St. Paul, St. Peter, Syriac, Syriac Inscription, Turkey, Urfa

Urfa Citadel

Entrance to Urfa citadel, the man-made moat cut around the eastern and southern sides of the Citadel and the remaining standing architecture in the interior, including the two C3rd columns. There is also evidence of classical spolia reused in various sections of the citadel.

Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Citadel, Column, Defensive Network, Edessa, Inscription, Moat, Syriac, Syriac Inscription, Turkey, Urfa

The fishponds of Abraham

The heart of Urfa is a garden and complex of religious buildings around pools of sacred fish, believed to have been holy to Abraham and called locally Balikli Göl.