Harran, in the southeast of Şanlıurfa, which has hosted many different civilizations throughout history, also has great importance in Turkish and Islamic history. Harran fascinates its visitors with the unique architecture of conical domed houses, which are found in only three different places in the world. At the same time, Harran district is known for being on the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List and attracts the attention of both tourists and local people with its historical houses.
Harran, located approximately 45 kilometers from the city center, SanliurfaIt is a district close to the borders of . Beyond being one of the leading settlements of Northern Mesopotamia, Harran is considered one of the world’s first scientific centers. In this district, the world’s first Islamic universityYou may have the opportunity to witness the ruins of . Exploring this important corner of Şanlıurfa full of history and science will be an unforgettable experience.
Interesting Features of Harran Houses
It is estimated that the word meaning of Harran, which is thought to be located at the intersection of trade routes in the past, is “caravan” or “travel”. The heights exceeding 5 meters in this district Harran houses with conical domesprovides important information to visitors. The exterior surfaces of these houses were plastered with mud and the interiors were created with a mixture of egg whites, soil, straw and rose oil. These types of houses are the only ones in the world Türkiye, Italy and Syria’There is also. Additionally, an interesting feature of these houses is that they are equipped with a system that will heat all rooms even if a stove is lit in a single room.
Houses with this incredible architecture stand out as structures that are met with great admiration by today’s architects. The most important feature of these houses, built with brick material commonly used in the region, is that they have the capacity to keep cool in summer and warm in winter. The number of domes in each house symbolized the financial status of the owner of that house, so these houses were also important as structures that reflected social status.
Additionally, since the people living in these houses are usually relatives, the houses are built interconnected from the inside. It is also noteworthy that these houses have different sections such as harem and greetings, because these sections contribute to the organization of family life.
These unique houses belong to the Umayyad period, and it is said that there are only two masters who can build such houses today. Additionally, painting some parts of the houses blue is known as a precaution to keep scorpions away from these areas. The top of Harran houses is left open, which allows for plenty of natural light and serves as a chimney to expel the smoke or hot air accumulated inside.
Each room is usually 9 to 16 square meters in size, and the houses, which consist of rows of units around a courtyard, date back to ancient times. The use of dome houses has decreased due to the construction of modern houses in Harran. However, a few houses in the town center have been restored as cultural houses and opened to visitors. Traditional items made from the herb grown in the surrounding area are also exhibited in these houses.
Dome houses in Harran were declared a protected area in 1979, and restrictions were imposed on architectural changes, construction and material procurement of such houses. 960 domed houses were identified, one of them was restored and four were purchased for restoration by the Ministry of Culture.
These authentic houses in Harran are known for their interesting details and unique architecture. There are covers on the walls of the houses for areas where different animals can enter. The plaster and maintenance of these special buildings are renewed and maintained at regular intervals. These houses have been in existence since the 6th century BC and are also known as conical dome houses. Although they are not currently in use, their architecture still amazes and attracts thousands of tourists to this area every year.
The most interesting feature of these houses that inspires idioms is the stones used in their construction. The domes of Harran houses are built on 4 stones. If you pull one of these stones, an equilibrium is created in which the entire dome can collapse. That’s why the phrase “I’ll tear your house down” is believed to be inspired by the construction technique of these special structures. These details make Harran houses important not only in terms of architecture but also as cultural and historical richness.
