The arches of the mosque, citadel, rose garden area.
Local legend has it that Abraham was born here in Urfa. This is not an improbable legend. Ur of the Chaldees is within 60 miles. Legend’s somewhat more improbable (to utilize sarcastic understatement) story is that the king of Urfa was angry with Abraham, so he prepared a large bonfire below the citadel. He launched Abraham from a catapult in the citadel on a trajectory toward the raging fire below. While Abraham was flying through the air, Allah changed the fire into water, the firewood into fish, and a rose garden appeared around the pool. Abraham fell harmlessly into the pool, Allah miraculously protecting his prophet. The pool, rose garden, and fish are there today to prove it.
The Great Mosque of Urfa
Birds on mosque
Steps ascending to the citadel
The Great Mosque
The courtyard of the Great Mosque
The Great Mosque in the setting sun
How many minarets can you count out across the city?
Dead man’s bones
Graveyard
Urfa from the Citadel steps
The two towers
Framed
Urfa from the citadel
Park area
Urfa framed
The backside of Urfa
The entrance to the tunnel that led from the citadel to the city
The tunnel
Beautiful avenue in the Mosque/Citadel park area
Rizvaniye Mosque
Rizvaniye Mosque
Leave a Comment