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Harran Archaeological Site and Harran Ulu Mosque

History and archaeology / Archaeological site

Harran Archaeological Site and Harran Ulu Mosque

Harran, Şanlıurfa

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The mound of ancient Harran, center of the cult of the Moon god Sin, and the remains of the Ulu Mosque commissioned by the Umayyad caliph Marwan II in 744–750, considered the oldest mosque in Anatolia.

Safety warning

In the muze.gov.tr record the archaeological site appears as 'closed to visitors due to the earthquake'; the Ulu Mosque section opened in 2024. Check which sections are open before visiting. In summer the temperature can exceed 40 °C; plan your visit for the morning or late afternoon, and carry a hat and plenty of water.

Its story

The name Harran appears in the Kültepe and Mari tablets of the early 2nd millennium BC; the city, at the crossing point of trade routes linking Mesopotamia to Anatolia and the Mediterranean, was an important cult center of the Moon god Sin and was briefly the capital in the Late Assyrian period. In the city, which stood out as a center of science and translation in the Islamic period, the square minaret and arches of the Ulu Mosque, commissioned by the Umayyad caliph Marwan II between 744 and 750, have remained standing; it is accepted as the oldest example of Islamic architecture in Türkiye. Restored after the 2023 earthquakes, the Ulu Mosque reopened to visitors in 2024. It is visited together with the mound, walls, gates and beehive (kümbet) houses.

Key facts

Period
2nd millennium BC – Middle Ages; Ulu Mosque 744–750
Admission
Free
Getting there
Harran district center; ~44 km from Şanlıurfa
Visit duration
1.5 hours

Trip purpose

  • Free
  • Photography
  • Day trip

Location

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36.86486, 39.03093

Where to eat nearby

No food & drink venues listed nearby.

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; Overture Maps

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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harran_Ulu_Camii | https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harran_Höyüğü | https://muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?SectionId=HAR01&DistId=MRK | https://www.arkeolojikhaber.com/haber-harran-ulu-cami-ziyarete-acildi-39504/ | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/300410166