Editing Harran (section)

==== Early history ====
[[File:Syria2mil.JPG|thumb|Harran and other major cities of ancient Syria]]
Harran is situated at an important geographical crossroad, both between the [[Euphrates]] and [[Tigris]] rivers and at the border between the ancient [[Mesopotamia]]n and [[Anatolian peoples|Anatolian]] cultures. The earliest known settlements in the region surrounding Harran date to 10000–8000 BC and settlements in its close vicinity are known to have existed by 6000&nbsp;BC.{{Sfn|Başaran|2011|p=544}} The region was linked to the [[Sumerians]], and was occupied by [[Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples|ancient Semitic-speaking people]] around 2750&nbsp;BC.{{Sfn|Binici|Binici|Akcan|Yardim|2020|p=1019}} The earliest written records concerning Harran suggest that the city itself was founded {{Circa}} 2500{{sfn|Özdeniz|Bekleyen|Gönül|Gönül|1998|p=478}}–2000 BC{{Sfn|Frew|1999}}{{Sfn|Green|1992|p=19}} as a merchant outpost by traders from the Sumerian city of [[Ur]].{{Sfn|Frew|1999}}{{Sfn|Green|1992|p=19}}

Harran was from early on associated with the Mesopotamian moon-god [[Sin (mythology)|Nanna]] (later known as Sin){{Sfn|Frew|1999}} and soon became regarded as a sacred city of the moon.{{Sfn|Bosworth|2003|pp=13–14}}{{Sfn|Pingree|2002|p=8}} The [[Ekhulkhul]] ("Temple of Rejoicing"),{{Sfn|Green|1992|p=21}} Harran's great moon temple, was already present in the city by {{Circa}} 2000&nbsp;BC.{{Sfn|Lloyd|Brice|Gadd|1951|p=|pp=87–88}} Sin was a major deity in Ur, which also housed his main temple,{{Sfn|Healey|2018|p=57}} but Harran's devotion to the moon can perhaps also be explained by its geography and climate. According to Donald Frew, the sun was a natural enemy in the hot and desolate landscape surrounding Harran whereas the night (and thus the moon) were more comforting.{{Sfn|Frew|1999}} The sun-god [[Shamash]] is however also thought to have had a temple in Harran. Another prominent deity in the city was Sin's son [[Nuska|Nusku]], the god of light.{{Sfn|Glassé|2003|p=171}}

Although next to nothing is known of the architecture and layout of Harran prior to the Middle Ages,{{Sfn|Bienkowski|Millard|2000|p=140}} the city is believed to have been designed according to a vaguely moon-shaped plan{{Sfn|Bosworth|2003|pp=13–14}} since Medieval sources allude to this. What kind of moon shape is meant by the sources is not clear.{{Sfn|Rice|1952|p=38}}

The religious authorities of Harran, speaking on behalf of Sin, were considered suitable guarantors and signatories in political treaties.

The first clear evidence about Harran comes from the inscribed clay tablets found at [[Ebla]], dating to the 24th century BC. These tablets provide good information about the social and administrative life of Harran during the Early [[Bronze Age]]. Harran is mentioned in the Ebla tablets together with the cities of Urshun and Irrite. At that time, Harran was ruled by a queen named Zugalum.<ref>[http://www.tayproject.org/TAYages.fm$Retrieve?CagNo=1267&html=ages_detail_e.html&layout=web Harran.] - tayproject.org</ref>

Already {{Circa}} 2000&nbsp;BC, a peace treaty was sealed in the Ekhulkhul between [[Mari, Syria|Mari]] and the [[Mari, Syria|Yaminites]], an [[Amorites|Amorite]] tribe. Further treaties signed that invoke Sin of Harran include a 14th-century&nbsp;BC treaty between [[Šuppiluliuma I]] of the Hittites and [[Shattiwaza]] of [[Mitanni]], and an 8th-century BC treaty between the Assyrian king [[Ashur-nirari V]] and [[Mati'ilu]] of [[Arpad, Syria|Arpad]].{{Sfn|Lloyd|Brice|Gadd|1951|p=|pp=87–88}}

Harran grew into a major Mesopotamian cultural, commercial and religious center.{{sfn|Özdeniz|Bekleyen|Gönül|Gönül|1998|p=478}} In addition to its religious importance, Harran was also important due to its strategic placement on an intersection of trade routes.{{Sfn|Lloyd|Brice|Gadd|1951|p=80}} Because Harran had an abundance of goods that passed through its region, it often became a target for raids.{{Sfn|Green|1992|pp=19–20}} In the 19th century BC, the lands surrounding Harran were occupied by confederations of semi-nomadic tribes.{{Sfn|Green|1992|p=19}} In the following century the [[Amorites|Amorite]] king [[Shamshi-Adad&nbsp;I]] ({{Reign|1808|1776}}&nbsp;BC) is recorded to have launched an expedition to conquer the region around Harran and secure the trade routes there from hostile forces.{{Sfn|Green|1992|pp=19–20}} After the fall of [[Shamshi-Adad I]]'s kingdom in the early 18th century BC, Harran was an independent [[city-state]] for a time; archives from Mari from the time of [[Zimri-Lim]] ({{Reign|1775|1761}}) record that Harran in his time was ruled by a king named [[Asdi-Takim]].{{Sfn|Holloway|1995|p=280}} Harran was later incorporated into the [[Mitanni]] kingdom in the 16th century BC.{{Sfn|Holloway|1995|p=280}}