Evil Places (Southern Turkey)

Sauyb (Jethro)

Sauyb (Jethro)

Our visit covered the ancient city of Sauyb. 9000BC commonly dubbed Jethro after the prophet who lived here 
It is a subterranean city with a few massive lintels and doorways remaining on the surface. It was an evil centre for sun and moon worship The caves are carved with effigies and scripts apparently undecipherable. The caves were used for sacrifices and tributes to Pagan gods. It was an evil place. Citt and I left as soon as we could. It was chilling.

Sogmatar

About 18km north of Suayb, the isolated village of Sogmatar is a very atmospheric, eerie place, surrounded by a barren landscape. The remains of a Roman fort. On a ledge there is an an open-air temple, With effigy of the Sun and Moon Gods on the surrounding mountains there are the remains of 7 temples, Little is know of the goings on or the actual rituals as the script is not deciphered it is known that the area was the centre of worship to the sun and moon gods. Sogmatar was a centre for cult worship, from about 300BC to 200 AD. The open-air altar was the central, temple. Close by,  in a cave near the centre of the village there are 12 carved statues as well as Assyrian inscriptions. The cave is cold and unwelcoming.

The Caravanserie Han el Ba'rur

Citt and I are Silk Road buffs and have followed the road through China across Central Asia and now Turkey, Cavanserais are trading posts and rest places for the caravans.  Some caravans with guards, slaves  and handlers consisted of 200 to 300 people along with camels. This is an ancient Seljuk 1300 AD complex designed to shelter and refuel the silk road caravans on the direct route to Baghdad (a ancient truck stop). It is easy to feel how much security it would have offered behind its heavily fortified walls.

The caretaker of sorts had us come in for tea (cay') as is the custom for travellers. We had tea with yoghurt bread and local jam. The guy had 8 kids of varying ages from 3 to 15. We were the centre of attraction.
I had a good supply of twisty balloons creating some good laughs' He was so proud of his new arrivals of goats and sheep. 
We spent a long time with this genuine family who pick cotton for $8.00 per day in the hot sun. 


We hoped our gift to this family would assist to make their life a little easier, The happy kids were the highlight of the day.

We returned to Urfa for the last night. Our small celebration was a simple meal in a restaurant overlooking the citadel and Birth place of Abraham, secure in the knowledge we were in the holiest of holy places. 
It was a magic end to our visit to Urfa.

Sanlurfa Citadel and Mosque

Tomorrow we catch the early bus to Van,

A day trip to Harran Southern Turkey Syria border,

Hello I am back in the land of internet a month in Iran with a heavily filtered internet,
The following post may interest you, I sort of put it down as a pilgrimage to biblical sites, I am not versed in the old testament nor the Bilbe or the Koran but this is the land of the myth makers as a friend dubs it.
Read on 17 October
We left our hotel with a car and driver to visit the sites around the southern town of Harran,

Harran Turkey Abraham's journey

Harran is arguably one of the oldest continuously inhabited spots on earth. The Book of Genesis mentions Harran and its most famous resident, Abraham, who stayed here for a few years way back in 1900 BC.

The Castle at Harran

it was active as a pagan site from about 800 BC until AD 830, although Harran’s temple to the moon god was destroyed by the Byzantine emperor Theodosius in AD 382. Battles between Arabs and Byzantines occupied the townsfolk until the Crusaders came. The fortress, which some say was built on the ruins of the moon god’s temple, was restored when the Crusaders approached. The Crusaders won. But the home fires drew them back to Europe after sorting out the non believers,

The town was completely destroyed by the Mongols in the 12^th century all that is left is a pile of stones and a university gate. The fort was rebuilt but is now a wreck

Citt @ Harran  University destroyed by Mongols in 12th century the whole city was destroyed,

Harran is famous for beehive (cone) houses which date back to the 3^rd Century. The design is unique although I am given to believe that similar houses exist iin Syria The Chimney top gives a flow of air through the roof keeping it cool in summer. The houses are made of clay and straw, We were fortunate to visit one of these complexes set up as a home.

Harran Beehive houses

The castle is in fair shape originally built over three levels. It is in a state of ruin Citt believes it would convert beautifully to a 5 star hotel. It has the best views over the surrounding deserts We were told the bricks were an easy supply of building materials for the locals. Explaining the missing ramparts at the castle.

The desert now sprouts cotton thank to the waters of the Eurphrates. The area is being developed under the Gap Project an ambitious project to turn huge expanses of desert into arable land, It has the potential to start a war with the flow of water virtually stopped to neighbouring Iraq and Syria. It is OK while the neighbouring countries are in turmoil! 

Kurdish Cotton pickers

Citt and I returned that evening to Urfa completely exhausted with the amount of history in one place, I will update you on Sogmater, Sayub and the temples of the Pagans' Sun and Moon worship These sites we visited the same day and came away with some deep feeling of uneasiness.


At present I am struggling with an internet site at KL LCCT airport Malaysia which is not co-operating with me.......


I am going home.