City of Inns and Markets
Sanliurfa holds the distinction of being the Turkish city with the highest number of inns and covered markets, known for its picturesque houses resembling small palaces. Boasting 309 registered houses, the city’s charm is set to receive a tourism boost with the opening of the international airport and strengthened relations with neighboring Syria.
The Tale of Prophet Abraham and the Sacred Fish Pool (Balikli Gol)
The narrative unfolds with the cruel King Nimrod Read More about The Golden Age of Calligraphy, driven by fear of a prophecy that foretells his demise at the hands of a child born that year. Ordering the execution of all newborns, Sara Hatun escapes, giving birth to Abraham in a cave. Abandoned and suckled by a female gazelle, Abraham is discovered by soldiers. Nimrod, lacking an heir, adopts the child. As Abraham grows, he questions the oppressive rule and challenges the worship of idols. During a religious ceremony, he demolishes the idols in the palace, hanging an axe over the largest one. Facing trial, Abraham cleverly places responsibility on the idol itself. Nimrod, angered, questions how a stone could perform such an act. Abraham asserts that if the idol is truly a god, it should be capable of destroying the others. Abraham faces punishment, leading to the creation of the Lake of Halil – Ur Rahman and the construction of two columns near the Nemrut Citadel.
The Miraculous Transformation Lake of Halil – Ur Rahman
In a dramatic turn of events, King Nimrod, undeterred by pleas from Zeliha, decides to burn a massive fire and cast Prophet Abraham into it between two columns. As the stretched ropes launch Abraham into the flames, a miraculous transformation occurs. The fire, intended for destruction, transforms into a lake the moment Abraham descends into the faggots. Remarkably Istanbul City Tour, the faggots turn into fishes, bearing black marks from the burning. This mystical body of water is now known as “the Lake of Halil – Ur Rahman.” Additionally, a smaller lake, formed from Zeliha’s tears, is aptly named “Aynzeliha,” symbolizing the tears of Zeliha. Even in contemporary times, the lake and its sacred fishes in §anhurfa are revered, with a belief that touching the fishes may lead to misfortune or death.
