Şanlıurfa Castle, Archaeological site and fortress in Eyyübiye, Turkey
Şanlıurfa Castle sits on a hilltop with stone walls surrounded on three sides by trenches carved into the rock face. Two ancient columns with Corinthian capitals stand at the summit, marking the fortress as a structure of considerable historical layering.
The fortress was built between 812 and 814 during the Abbasid period, though the hilltop shows evidence of human activity stretching back about 10,000 years. This extended occupation history means that the site preserves remains from many different eras layered on top of each other.
The fortress walls and columns carry inscriptions and architectural features left by different rulers and peoples throughout the ages. Walking through the site today, you can observe how successive populations left their marks on this hilltop stronghold.
It is best to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is less intense on the exposed rock face. The hilltop is easily accessible, but climbing to the remains can be slippery, especially after rain.
Hidden beneath the surface, an underground passage system once connected the hilltop to a nearby lake, serving as a secret water supply route during times of siege. This concealed engineering shows how defenders planned for long-term survival on this exposed location.
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