Şanlıurfa is known as the City of Prophets with its many historical and religious sites. Soğmatar Ancient City is one of these important places. Soğmatar is an ancient settlement located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Şanlıurfa. Şanlıurfa is considered one of the oldest settlements in the world. The Ancient City of Soğmatar draws attention with its important structures that shed light on the history of ancient settlements in the region.
Soğmatar Ancient City is a region that was under the influence of paganism and pagan beliefs in ancient times. According to rumors, it is known as the place where Prophet Musa was married to the daughter of the Median king Shuayb for 10 years. For this reason, wells, rock tombs and reliefs associated with Prophet Moses are found in this region.
One of the most important features of the city is the Temple of the Moon Goddesses. It is thought that ceremonies dedicated to the Moon goddesses Nanna, Aya, Sin and Shamash were performed in this temple. In addition, there are many rock tombs in the city and there are reliefs and inscriptions on these tombs.
The Ancient City of Soğmatar has become a tourist attraction attracting the attention of local and foreign tourists. Here, visitors can wander in an atmosphere teeming with history and culture, explore ancient ruins and trace the past. At the same time, the natural beauties around the city are one of the elements that attract the attention of visitors.
However, it should be noted that there is no definite historical evidence among the information and rumors about the Ancient City of Soğmatar. For this reason, some scientists and archaeologists question the accuracy of associating this settlement with Prophet Moses. More scientific research is needed on this subject.
Structures Found in the Ancient City of Soğmatar
It is a rumor among the people that the ancient city located in Yağmurlu District was accepted as the place where Prophet Moses lived and that he met his father-in-law, Şuayip Prophet here. The mound in the middle of the village is a sacred mound dating back to the Chalcolithic period. Remains of walls and bastions in this mound indicate that the mound was used as a castle for many years.
There are hundreds of historical wells, rock tombs and reliefs in the ancient city. In addition, the temples of the moon and sun gods are among the remarkable features of the ancient city. However, it is known that the historical and scientific evidence for the temples and other ruins here is insufficient.
The touristic value of the ancient city attracts the attention of local and foreign tourists. Visitors can explore ancient ruins, admire the historic structures on the mound, and learn about the history and culture of the area. In addition, the natural beauties close to the ancient city are other elements that attract the attention of visitors.
History of the Ancient City of Soğmatar
Soğmatar Ancient City, which is 15 km from Shuayib City, is 53 km from Harran. It has been scientifically determined that the Ancient City of Soğmatar is dated to the Roman period (2nd century AD) and was a cult center where the people of Harran worshiped for the moon and planet gods during the Abgar Kingdom. In Sogmatar is the Pognon Cave, a cave dedicated to the moon god Sin. In addition, there are features such as the Sacred Hill where god reliefs and inscriptions are located, 6 square and round planned mausoleums (Mausoleum), an inner castle and many rock tombs carved into the rocks. This ancient city was used as an important religious center during the Abgar Kingdom. The Harranians built temples for the moon and planet gods here and worshiped these gods.
Visitors visiting the Soğmatar Ancient City can explore ancient ruins, see reliefs of gods and inscriptions, and learn about the region’s religious and cultural history. This ancient city makes an important contribution to the rich history and cultural heritage of Şanlıurfa. Rumor has it that people in the Shuayb City settlement used Sogmatar as a cemetery and a place of worship. As proof of this, the existence of some religious motifs found in Soğmatar can be shown.
Legend has it that a 5,000-year-old toy horse carriage believed to have lived in Soğmatar was found in the Ancient City of Soğmatar. Such archaeological discoveries support the ancient city’s historical traces and traces of the past. It is thought that the foundation of the ancient city was carried out by the people fleeing the attacks made by the Parthians (Iranians) in the Şanlıurfa region in 165 AD. Therefore, the Ancient City of Soğmatar played an important role as a cult center until the Islamic Period.
