Editing Harran (section)

==== Assyria and Babylonia ====
[[File:Harran Stela.png|thumb|The [[Harran Stela]], discovered at Harran in 1956, depicting the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire|Neo-Babylonian]] king [[Nabonidus]] ({{Reign|556|539}}&nbsp;BC)]]
Harran was conquered from Mitanni by the Assyrian king [[Adad-nirari&nbsp;I]] ({{Reign|1305|1274}}&nbsp;BC).{{Sfn|Frew|1999}}{{Sfn|Green|1992|p=20}} The city would not be firmly incorporated into [[Middle Assyrian Empire]] until the 1100s BC,{{Sfn|Sinclair|1990|p=29}} before which it was often occupied by [[Arameans]].{{Sfn|Glassé|2003|p=171}} Under Assyria, Harran grew into a fortified provincial capital second in importance only to the capital of [[Assur]] itself. In the 10th century, Harran was one of the few cities, along with Assur, to be exempt from needing to pay tribute to the Assyrian king{{Sfn|Lloyd|Brice|Gadd|1951|p=88}} and in the 9th and 8th centuries BC, Harran was made the seat of the ''[[turtanu]]'', the Assyrian commander-in-chief.{{Sfn|Green|1992|p=20}}

Since Harran was the sacred city of the moon-god, many Mesopotamian kings travelled there to receive the blessing and confirmation of their rule from the city's religious officials and in turn renovated and expanded Harran and its temples.{{Sfn|Frew|1999}} The Ekhulkhul was renovated twice in the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Neo-Assyrian period]] by the kings [[Shalmaneser III]] ({{Reign|859|824}} BC) and [[Ashurbanipal]] ({{Reign|669|631}}&nbsp;BC).{{Sfn|Pingree|2002|p=8}} Prophecies made by prophets and oracles of the moon cult of Harran were held in high regard; in the 670s BC the Harranians correctly prophesied that [[Esarhaddon]] ({{Reign|681|669}}&nbsp;BC) would conquer Egypt and [[Sasi (usurper)|Sasi]], a usurper proclaimed king by the [[Oracle of Nusku]] from Harran, managed to rally widespread support in the empire before he was defeated. The reign of Esarhaddon in particular marked the rise of the Ekhulkhul into one of the most prominent religious sanctuaries in the [[ancient Near East]], a position it would retain for centuries.{{Sfn|Radner|2003|pp=173–174}}

The Neo-Assyrian Empire was [[Medo-Babylonian conquest of the Assyrian Empire|defeated]] in the late seventh century BC by the newly established [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] and the [[Medes]]. The Assyrian capital of [[Nineveh]] fell in 612&nbsp;BC but the remnants of the Assyrian army, led by Crown Prince [[Aššur-uballiṭ II]], rallied at Harran.{{Sfn|Radner|2019|pp=135–136}} Harran is therefore typically regarded as the short-lived final capital of ancient Assyria.{{Sfn|Leick|2009|p=83}}{{Sfn|Reade|2011|p=123}} Aššur-uballiṭ II underwent a coronation ceremony at Harran, being invested with rulership by Sin.{{Sfn|Radner|2019|pp=135–136}} After a long siege lasting from the winter of 610 BC to early 609&nbsp;BC, [[Fall of Harran|Harran was captured]] by the Babylonians and Medes, ending the Neo-Assyrian Empire.{{Sfn|Lipschits|2005|p=19}} The Ekhulkhul was destroyed by the Medes at this time{{Sfn|Lambert|1972|p=56}} and was neglected for many years{{sfn|Dalley|Reyes|Pingree|Salvesen|1998|pp=152–153}} but was eventually restored by the Neo-Babylonian king [[Nabonidus]] ({{Reign|556|539}} BC),{{Sfn|Pingree|2002|p=8}} who was from Harran.{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1989|p=76}} The city itself was also significantly revitalised in Nabonidus's reign.{{sfn|Hauser|2017|p=230}}