Harran, also known as Carrhae, is an archeological site in present day southeastern Turkey, 24 miles (39 kilometers) southeast of Sanli Urfa. In its prime, it controlled the point where the road from Damascus joins the highway between Nineveh and Carchemish. This location gave Harran strategic value from an early date. It is frequently mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions as early as the time of Tiglath-Pileser I, about 1100 BC, under the name Harranu, or "Road"( Akkadian harrānu, road, path, journey ). After the Shupiluliuma-Shattiwazza treaty, Harran was burned by a Hittite army under Piyashshili ...

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The Sabians were well known until the ninth century AD. Around this time, the Harranians claimed the name Sabian in order to avoid Islamic persecution. Long ago however, there may have existed some connection between the two groups, since Sabians allegedly had a base in Edessa. One should not confuse either of these groups with Sabaeans - a completely unrelated group. After the conquests of Alexander, Harran came to be a center of intellectual and religious activity, which evolved into a philosophical tradition centered on Hermes Tris ...

See also:

Sabians, Sabians - Islamic reference, Sabians - Sabi-Harran connections, Sabians - Sabi-Mandaean connections, Sabians - In the Bahá'í writings, Sabians - New-Age Sabians, Sabians - Conclusion

Read more here: » Sabians: Encyclopedia II - Sabians - Sabi-Harran connections

Sabian is a term that has been more or less inaccurately used to describe at least three religious groups (see Mandaeanism, Harranians or Sabeans, and Sabaeans). The term derives from the Arabic term "Sabi" (plural Sabiyah) meaning proselyte (i.e., one who has converted through Baptism but also reminiscent of a word meaning light) which was an appellation for a now obscure Arabic religious group. They are first mentioned in the Qur'an and later appear again in the writings of the Bahá'í Faith. Despite their clear documentation in traditions stemming from Islam, the actual nature of the group remains a matter o ...

Including:

• Sabians - Islamic reference
• Sabians - Sabi-Harran connections
• Sabians - Sabi-Mandaean connections
• Sabians - In the Bahá'í writings
• Sabians - New-Age Sabians
• Sabians - Conclusion

Read more here: » Sabians: Encyclopedia - Sabians

The Battle of Carchemish was fought between the Egyptian army and the Babylonian army. It was fought at Carchemish about 605 BC. When the Assyrian capital Ninevah was overrun by the Babylonians in 612 BC, they moved their capital to Harran. When Harran was captured by the Babylonians in 610 BC, the capital was once again moved, this time to Carchemish. Egypt was allied with the Assyrians, and marched in 609 BC to their aid against the Babylonians. The Egyptian army of Pharaoh Necho II was delayed at Megiddo by the forces of King Jo ...

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1104 - Events. September 3 - St. Cuthbert reburied in the Durham Cathedral The Venice Arsenal, is founded in Venice. Alfonso I of Aragon becomes King of Aragon and Navarre. Historian Guibert of Nogent becomes abbot of Notre Dame de Nogent. Baldwin I of Jerusalem captures Acre. Baldwin II, count of Edessa, is taken prisoner by the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Harran; Tancred becomes regent. Kilij Arslan I, Sultan of Rüm, starts a war with the Danishmend ...

Including:

• 1104 - Events
• 1104 - Births
• 1104 - Deaths

Read more here: » 1104: Encyclopedia - 1104

The Battle of Carrhae was a decisive battle fought in the year 53 BC near the town of Carrhae (now the present-day ruins of Harran, Turkey) between the Roman Republic under the Roman general Crassus and the Parthian Empire under the Parthian Eran Spahbod Surena. Battle of Carrhae - Background. In 55 BC, the renowned General Marcus Licinius Crassus had just finished serving his joint-consul year with Pompey. At the time, Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar had a powerful triumvirate that all but controlled Ro ...

Including:

• Battle of Carrhae - Background
• Battle of Carrhae - The Battle
• Battle of Carrhae - Outcome

Read more here: » Battle of Carrhae: Encyclopedia - Battle of Carrhae

Marc Edmund Jones, founder of the Sabian Assembly, described them more or less accurately as "a Muslim group". They worship The Names (El-Esmea) as the stars. The whole debate on who the Sabians were is directly connected to the existence of the following verses from the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam. The Qur'an briefly announces the Sabians as people of the book and the Hadith provide further details as to who they were: "Those who believe, and the Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last ...

See also:

Sabians, Sabians - Islamic reference, Sabians - Sabi-Harran connections, Sabians - Sabi-Mandaean connections, Sabians - In the Bahá'í writings, Sabians - New-Age Sabians, Sabians - Conclusion

Read more here: » Sabians: Encyclopedia II - Sabians - Islamic reference

Some scholars have suggested that the Mandaean religion originated with Sabeans, who came under the influence of early Sabian missionaries but preferred their own priesthood. In either case we find in the writings from about 900 AD onward that there are now two Sabians mentioned and are distinguished as the "ancient first or true Sabians", while the Harranians are called the "pseudo Sabians". Thus various religious groups with a connection to baptism (like the Mandaeans) have sought to have the label applied to themselves in the hopes of avo ...

See also:

Sabians, Sabians - Islamic reference, Sabians - Sabi-Harran connections, Sabians - Sabi-Mandaean connections, Sabians - In the Bahá'í writings, Sabians - New-Age Sabians, Sabians - Conclusion

Read more here: » Sabians: Encyclopedia II - Sabians - Sabi-Mandaean connections

Historically, Southeastern Anatolia was located on the trading route between east and west. The region had been an important source of cultural diversity. However the changes in the trading routes and the agricultural methods ended the old importance of the region. 1908 - Farming in Harran 1908 - Irrigation in Harran 1908 - Well and a girl The 1989 Master Plan had aimed to initiate the revitalization of the economic, social and cultural life in the region through an "integrated regional development project". The r ...

See also:

Southeastern Anatolia Project, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Strategic goal, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Social Impact, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Economic development, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Irrigation, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Fishing, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Power, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Infrastructure, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Dams, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Maintenance, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Engineering behind the project, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Status of GAP, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Cultural Impact, Southeastern Anatolia Project - Erasure of Displaced Peoples

Read more here: » Southeastern Anatolia Project: Encyclopedia II - Southeastern Anatolia Project - Strategic goal

The history of Şanlıurfa city dates as far back as 8,000 BC. It was among several cities in the Euphrates-Tigris Basin that together, are considered to be the cradle of the Mesopotamian civilization. The Turks claim that Urfa (its name, since Byzantine days) is the biblical city of Ur, due to its proximity to the biblical village of Harran, and is where Abraham was born and defeated by King Nimrud. However, the Iraqis also claim the same about the city of Ur in souther ...

See also:

Şanlıurfa Province, Şanlıurfa Province - History, Şanlıurfa Province - Geography

Read more here: » Şanlıurfa Province: Encyclopedia II - Şanlıurfa Province - History

He is said to have been born on Monday the 10th of Rabi' al-Awwal 66l H. (January 22, 1263 C.E.) at Harran. Hence his sobriquet of al-Harrani. In 1268 CE his family fled Mongol invaders and took refuge in Damascus. The elder Taymiya was an Islamic scholar and, subsequently, Ibn Taymiya would follow in his father's footsteps. He was an outspoken and controversial scholar. Ibn Taymiya asserted his right to ijtihad, or independent judgement; he denounced the Muslims of his time as given to idolatry (shirk) and innovation (bidah). He woul ...

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Ibn Taymiya, Ibn Taymiya - Life, Ibn Taymiya - Teachings of Ibn Taymiya, Ibn Taymiya - Ibn Taymiya and Salafi thought, Ibn Taymiya - Ibn Taymiyya's students and intellectual heirs

Read more here: » Ibn Taymiya: Encyclopedia II - Ibn Taymiya - Life

He is said to have been born on Monday the 10th of Rabi' al-Awwal 661 H. (January 22, 1263 C.E.) at Harran. Hence his sobriquet of al-Harrani. In 1268 his family fled Mongol invaders and took refuge in Damascus. The elder Taymiya was an Islamic scholar and, subsequently, Ibn Taymiya would follow in his father's footsteps. He was an outspoken and controversial scholar. Ibn Taymiya asserted his right to ijtihad, or independent judgement; he denounced the Muslims of his time as given to idolatry (shirk) and innovation (bidah). He denounc ...

See also:

Ibn Taymiya, Ibn Taymiya - Life, Ibn Taymiya - Teachings of Ibn Taymiya, Ibn Taymiya - Ibn Taymiya and Salafi thought, Ibn Taymiya - Ibn Taymiyya's students and intellectual heirs

Read more here: » Ibn Taymiya: Encyclopedia II - Ibn Taymiya - Life

"Mitanni" seems to have been the native term; this entity may also have been the Biblical Harran, though this is contested. We may assume a Hurrian population with an Indo-Aryan aristocracy. No native sources for the history of Mitanni (i.e. Hanilgalbat) have been found so far. The account is mainly based on Assyrian, Hittite and Egyptian sources, as well as inscriptions from nearby places in Syria. Often it is not even possible to establish synchronicity between the rulers of different countries and cities, let alone give unco ...

See also:

Mitanni, Mitanni - Hurri Mitanni/Maitani and Hanilgalbat, Mitanni - History, Mitanni - Unknown rulers, Mitanni - Barattarna / Parshatatar, Mitanni - Shaushtatar, Mitanni - Artatama I and Shuttarna II, Mitanni - Artasshumara, Mitanni - Tushratta, Mitanni - Shattiwazza, Mitanni - Shattuara I, Mitanni - Wasashatta, Mitanni - Shattuara II, Mitanni - Hanilgalbat as an Assyrian Province, Mitanni - Neo-Assyrian times, Mitanni - Possible connections to Sanskrit and Indo-Aryans, Mitanni - Mitanni rulers, Mitanni - Towns, Mitanni - Excavations, Mitanni - Sources

Read more here: » Mitanni: Encyclopedia II - Mitanni - Hurri Mitanni/Maitani and Hanilgalbat

"Mitanni" seems to have been the native term; this entity may also have been the Biblical Harran, though this is contested. We may assume a Hurrian population with an Indo-Aryan aristocracy. No native sources for the history of Mitanni (i.e. Hanilgalbat) have been found so far. The account is mainly based on Assyrian, Hittite and Egyptian sources, as well as inscriptions from nearby places in Syria. Often it is not even possible to establish synchronicity between the rulers of different countries and cities, let alone give unco ...

See also:

Mitanni, Mitanni - Hurri Mitanni/Maitani and Hanilgalbat, Mitanni - History, Mitanni - Unknown rulers, Mitanni - Barattarna / Parshatatar, Mitanni - Shaushtatar, Mitanni - Artatama I and Shuttarna II, Mitanni - Artasshumara, Mitanni - Tushratta, Mitanni - Shattiwaza, Mitanni - Shattuara I, Mitanni - Wasashatta, Mitanni - Shattuara II, Mitanni - Hanilgalbat as an Assyrian Province, Mitanni - Neo-Assyrian times, Mitanni - Possible connections to Sanskrit and Indo-Aryans, Mitanni - Mitanni rulers, Mitanni - Towns, Mitanni - Excavations, Mitanni - Sources

Read more here: » Mitanni: Encyclopedia II - Mitanni - Hurri Mitanni/Maitani and Hanilgalbat

Baldwin II quickly became involved in the affairs of northern Syria and Asia Minor. He helped secure the ransom of Bohemund I of Antioch from the Danishmends in 1103, and, with Antioch, attacked the Byzantine Empire in Cilicia in 1104. Later in 1104, Edessa was attacked by Mosul, and both Baldwin and Joscelin were taken prisoner when they were defeated at the Battle of Harran. Bohemund's brother Tancred became regent in Edessa (although Richard of Salerno actually governed the territory), until Baldwin and Joscelin were ransomed in 1108. How ...

See also:

County of Edessa, County of Edessa - Foundation, County of Edessa - Conflicts with Muslim neighbours, County of Edessa - Fall of the county, County of Edessa - Population and demographics, County of Edessa - Vassals of Edessa, County of Edessa - Lordship of Turbessel, County of Edessa - Counts of Edessa 1098-1149

Read more here: » County of Edessa: Encyclopedia II - County of Edessa - Conflicts with Muslim neighbours

Adad · Ashnan Asaruludu · Emesh Enbilulu · Enkimdu · Enten Ereshkigal · Kabta Lahar · Mushdamma Nammu · Nanshe · Nergal Nidaba · Ningal Ninisinna · Ninkasi Ninlil · Ninurta · Nusku Sumugan · Urshanabi Uttu · Annunaki Nusku was the name of the light and fire-god in Babylonia and Assyria, who is hardly to be distinguished, from a certain time ...

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Nusku (Babylonian) Prominent Babylonian and Assyrian deity of light and fire, very closely associated with the god Girru or Gibil. As in other countries, fire was regarded as the great purifier, along with Ea, the god of water; hymns were addressed to him as the great cleanser from diseases and illness. Nusku-Girru represented both heavenly and terrestrial fire. He was regarded as the son of Anu, the deity of the heavenly spaces; but at Harran, in Assyria, he was regarded as the son of the moon deity Sin. Because of the connection of fire with productivity and birth, he held a position of the family god somewhat parallel to that of the Lares and Penates in ancient Rome.

(See also: Nusku, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Eden (Hebrew, Jewish). "Delight", pleasure. In Genesis the "Garden of Delight" built by God ; in the Kabbala the

"Garden of Delight", a place of Initiation into the mysteries. Orientalists identify it with a place which was situated in Babylonia in the district of Karduniyas, called also Gan-dunu, which is almost like the Gan-eden of the Jews. (See the works of Sir H. Rawlinson, and G. Smith.)

That district has four rivers, Euphrates, Tigris, Surappi, Ukni. The two first have been adopted without any change by the Jews; the other two they have probably transformed into " Gihon and Pison", so as to have something original. The following are some of the reasons for the identification of Eden, given by Assyriologists. The cities of Babylon, Larancha and Sippara, were founded before the flood, according to the chronology of the Jews.

"Surippak was the city of the ark, the mountain east of the Tigris was the resting place of the ark, Babylon was the site of the tower, and Ur of the Chaldees the birthplace of Abraham." And, as Abraham,

"the first leader of the Hebrew race, migrated from Ur to Harran in Syria and from thence to Palestine", the best Assyriologists think that it is "so much evidence in favour of the hypothesis that Chaldea was the original home of these stories (in the Bible) and that the Jews received them originally from the Babylonians".

(See also: Eden, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Sin (Chaldean) The moon; also the Babylonian and Assyrian moon deity called Enzu (the lord of wisdom) and Nannar (the illuminer). The wisdom is that of the lower manas, the reflection of the higher, and this wisdom can all too often become the dark wisdom of evildoing and sorcery.

Temples to Sin were erected in all the principal cities of the two empires, named E-gish-shir-gal (house of the great light). The worship of the moon deity predominated at Ur and Harran, and he was portrayed as an old man with flowing beard, having the crescent as his symbol and 30 as his number. Sin was known as father of the gods, creator of all things; and some of the ancient nations held that the moon was parent of the sun, and that the moon in its turn was once eons ago a sun itself.

The name is likewise found in the Hebrew Sinay, commonly written Sinai -- a moon-mountain, referring indirectly to the fact that all such places in ancient times which were named mountain of the moon or a similar title, were then centers of occult training and initiation, whether good or bad.

Referring to the forming of mankind, the Stanzas of Dzyan say: "Who perfects the last body? Fish, Sin, and Soma." Soma was in Hindustan also a name of the moon, and fish refers to a similar fact -- fishes often being taken as symbols of the productive power of the lunar influence because of their great fecundity. Fish, Sin, and the moon conjointly are the three symbols of the immortal Being (SD 1:263). As these symbols, among other things, stand for Pisces, karma, and the mother of terrestrial life, it would seem that the pilgrimage of the human monad through the halls of experience, and the completing of its evolution thereby, is indicated.

(See also: Sin, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)