Southeast Anatolia
Situation
Urfa is situated on the northwestern edge of the Harran Ovasi not far from the Turkish-Syrian border. Many researchers regard the town as one of the oldest in history. Sumerians and Hittites called it Urshu and the Babylonians called it Hurri (caves) from
the caves in the citadel hill. The Greeks christened it Orhai and from the time of the Macedonians to the Middle Ages the place was called Edessa and then Urfa, a corruption of Orhai. During the French occupation of the region in the Turkish War of Independence, the town put up staunch resistance and since 1983 "sanli" (famous) has been prefixed to the name in recognition of its bravery. Urfa is an important regional and commercial center for the predominantly agricultural area. When the "Urfa Tunnel" is completed as part of the GAP Euphrates project (Southeast Anatolian Project), an additional 6,910sq.km/2,667sq.miles of land will be irrigated and the Harran Ovasi is likely to become one of the most favorable agricultural areas in Turkey, similar to Adana in the Cukurova.
Townscape
Modern Urfa is a fascinating mixture of the traditional and the contemporary with Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish features. In the bazaar and old town, oriental influences predominate. Hectic commercial activity and high summer temperatures characterize the town.
Climate
As early as March, the average daytime temperature can reach 29°C/84°F and in November 31°C/87°F is not unusual. In July and August, the thermometer at midday can sometimes reach 45°C/113°F. During these months rainfall averages are as low as Antalya.
History
Sumerian, Akkadian and Hittite texts all make references to Urshu as an important center for the Hurrians. By the 18th century B.C. these Indo-Iranians had penetrated as far as Syria and were trying to bring Hittite expansion to a halt. About 1370 B.C. the Hittites destroyed the town which was later to become a part of the kingdom of Karkamis or more precisely, the Assyrian vassal state of Haddatu. Abraham is said to have been born in the town and spent some time here on his way from Ur to Canaan. As he was revered as a prophet and founding father by Jews, Moslems and Christians, Urfa has been a traditional destination for pilgrimages.
In the fourth century B.C. Seleukos I "re-founded" Orhai as the capital of his eastern Hellenistic Empire, settling Macedonian veterans here who named the town Edessa after their home province.
In the fourth century A.D. Ephraim of Nisibis (Nusaybin) established the "Persian Academy" here. Alongside a similar academy in Nisibis, it became a focus for Hellenistic learning, but Emperor Zeno closed it down. When the Roman provincial ruler Abgar the Great (A.D. 9-46) was converted to Christianity, after a miracle when Christ's handkerchief cured him of a skin ailment, Edessa soon became receptive to Christian teaching. Before the town was plundered by the Sassanids (502-505), the bones of St Thomas had been buried here. Under Justinian, Edessa became a center for Monophysite Christians.
In 1098, the Crusaders under Baldwin de Bouillon captured the town and founded the flourishing Christian state of Edessa which survived for nearly 50 years. In 1144 Arabs conquered the town and some of the inhabitants were deported, enslaved and later killed. The town was completely destroyed.
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