Beißen Gedanken: Harran traditional 'beehive' adobe houses

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Harran traditional 'beehive' adobe houses

Harran is famous for its traditional 'beehive' adobe houses, constructed entirely without wood, Şanlıurfa

The houses are 150-200 years old, are constructed from bricks collected from the ruins and are built over the remains of the ancient city.

The tradition of building domed houses is thought to date back as far as 6000 BC.

The houses are cool in the summer and warm in thewinter. In 1979, the region was declared a protected urban and archeological zone.

Harran traditional 'beehive' adobe house

Harran traditional 'beehive' adobe house, kitchen

Harran old house and well

Harran houses

Harran house

Sira gecesi

"Sıra Gece" are important occasions in Şanlıurfa’s musical and social life. Generally held at nights, these meetings provide an opportunity for men to get together and discuss issues and solve problems in the community. Arguments are resolved, young men learn about community life, and ideas are shared and discussed. Attended only by men, the
events provide a platform for social solidarity and cooperation. Local traditions are nurtured and developed. Musical performances play an important role in the meetings.

Sıra, literally means series, these series of nights inetended to held every one's house in turn..

Çiğ Kofte literally means Raw meatballs

Şanlıurfa is renowned for its ‘çiğ köfte’. Like so many things in the city, the story of how ‘çiğ köfte’ was first made is associated with the legend of Abraham.

The story goes like this: a hunter shoots a gazelle and brings it home to his wife to prepare it. However, all the wood in the city has been used to build the pyre on which King Nimrod has sentenced Abraham to burn,

and the people have been forbidden to light fires. Unable to cook the meat, the hunter’s wife trims the meat and presses it flat between two slabs of stone.

Next, she mixes the pressed meat with bulgur wheat, peppers and some greens, making the first ever ‘çiğ köfte’,which means ‘raw meatballs’.
The flavor and appearance of ‘çiğ köfte’ changes according to the quality of meat and type of bulgur used.

The main ingredients are bulgur, pounded lean meat, dry ‘isot’, onions, parsley and a variety of spices.