HARRAN
(CARRHAE)
Situated on the border between modern Syria, Turkey, and Iraq (and
now part of south-eastern Turkey), far up the Euphrates, Harran
was an early Mesopotamian city state founded in the mid-third millennium
BC. It served as a religious centre, but the main reason for its
early existence was its location on the trade route across northern
Mesopotamia and down to Ur in the south. Details of its early rule
are very sketchy, but it seems to have begun its life as a part
of the kingdom of Ebla. Carrhae itself is a now-unused portion of
the site which is famous for being the site of Rome's disastrous
battle against Parthia in 53 BC, while Harran is better known for
its relatively modern beehive houses.
fl
c.2400 BC :
Zugalum
: Eblaite princess who married the king of Harran.
c.2334
- 1900 BC :
Harran's
fortunes follow those of its parent city of Ebla.
A
rock crystal cylinder seal of the Early Dynastic I period in Mesopotamia
(around 2800 BC) showing two ibex, a gazelle, an animal's leg and
a fly
c.1800
- 1761 BC :
The powerful city state of Mari conquers Harran. Early Assyrian
influences make Harran a centre for the moon god Sin, which retains
its hold well into the Christian era.
fl
c.1775 - 1750 BC :
Itur
Asdu : Vassal of Mari.
c.1750
BC :
The
Semitic Israelite tribes following Terah from Ur temporarily settle
in Harran before moving southwards into Canaan.
c.1750s
- 1600 BC :
The city is controlled by various Akkadian groups.
c.1600
BC :
Aramaean groups secure the city of Harran and create an Aramaean
state.
Aram-Nahara'im
(Padan-Aram / Bit Nahreen) :
Aramaeans
began infiltrating into the northern edges of Syria, although at
first they were held back by the power of Mitanni. However, they
did secure a foothold in Harran, creating their own minor kingdom
there. The new form of the city's name meant 'Aram of the rivers'.
Records for the city are extremely poor, although the city is known
to have traded with its regional neighbours, including Tyre. The
near-legendary Aram ben Nahor is the Israelite leader Abraham's
brother in the Bible, and it is he, or alternatively his grandson,
Aram-Naharaim who is considered to be ancestral to all Aramaeans.
c.1700
BC :
Aram
ben Nahor : Israelite ancestor king of all Aramaeans.
c.1630
BC :
Aram-Naharaim
: Grandson.
fl
c.1600s? BC :
Bethuel
ben Nahor
fl
c.1600s? BC :
Lavan
bar Bethuel
c.1320s
BC :
Harran
is reduced by Piyashshili, son of Hittite king, Suppiluliuma I,
as part of the conquest of Mitanni.
fl
c.1290s BC :
Be'or
c.1270
- 1260 BC :
Balaam
fl
c.1140 BC :
Cushan-Rishataim?
c.1140
BC :
Israel
is apparently under Aramaean rule for eight years, until Cushan-Rishataim
is defeated by Othniel.
![](Sumer_Tablet01_full.jpg)
Sumerian
script remained the Latin of ancient Mesopotamia long after the
fall of Sumerian civilisation itself. This tablet contains a record
of beer
c.900
BC :
The city is
conquered by Assyria as part of a general campaign to halt Aramaean
raids. It serves as a regional capital.
763
BC :
Harran is
sacked by Assyria and subsequently restored under Sargon II.
fl
c.730 BC :
Bel-Pihati
: Assyrian vassal.
612
- 609 BC :
The
Assyrian empire is destroyed, but the commander of the Assyrian
western army, based in Harran, claims the crown. In 610 BC Harran
is conquered, but not completely destroyed, and by 609 BC the remaining
Assyrians surrender and the city is firmly in the hands of Babylonia
(or the Median empire, the existence of which is questionable).
550s
BC :
Nabo-Balatu-Ikbi :
Father of Nabonidus of Babylonia.
556
BC :
The
son of Nabo-Balatu-Ikbi, Nabonidus, becomes king of Babylonia. His
son, Nabo-Naid (which itself seems to be an alternate version of
the name Nabonidus), gains the throne in Harran in his stead. Nabonidus'
mother is high priestess at Harran while his daughter fills the
same role at Ur.
540s
BC :
Nabo-Naid
: Son of Nabonidus, last king of Babylonia.
539
- 332 BC :
The
region passes to the Persian empire when the Achaemenid king enters
Babylon.
333
- 332 BC :
In 334 BC Alexander of Macedon launches his campaign into the Persian
empire by crossing the Dardanelles. Much of Anatolia falls by 333
BC and Alexander proceeds into Syria during 333-332 BC to receive
the submission of Ebir-nāri, which also gains him Harran, Judah,
and Phoenicia (principally Byblos and Sidon, with Tyre holding out
until it can be taken by force). Athura, Gaza, and Egypt also capitulate
(not without a struggle in Gaza's case).
323 - 301 BC :
Upon the death of Alexander, Harran becomes part of the Antigonid
empire.
301
- c.80 BC :
The Seleucid empire controls the region, and the city becomes the
capital of the province of Osrhoene.
c.80
- 66 BC :
Armenia
takes Harran.
66
BC - AD 116 :
The
Parthians take control of the region, but Harran, now part of Osrhoene,
gains independence and acts as a buffer zone between Parthians and
Seleucids.
53
BC :
A Roman army under Triumvir Crassus is destroyed by a Parthian army
in what Rome terms the Battle of Carrhae (in other words, Harran).
Subsequent legend says that a small band of Roman prisoners wander
through the desert and are eventually rounded up by the Han military
seventeen years later (36 BC).
AD
116 - 232 :
The
Romans conquer the region from the Parthians.
232
- 242 :
The
Sassanids briefly conquer the region.
242
- 296 :
Rome re-takes the region.
296
- 651 :
The Sassanids defeat Emperor Galerius, and this time they hold onto
the region until it is conquered by the Islamic empire.
Source
:
https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/
KingListsMiddEast/SyriaEbla.htm