History

The Myth of Urfa’s Turkish Origin

The city of Urfa, also known as Şanlıurfa or Edessa, is one of the oldest and most culturally diverse cities in the world. Urfa has a rich history that spans millennia and civilizations. It is revered by many religions as the birthplace of Abraham, the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is also the site of the famous correspondence between King Abgar V and Jesus Christ, according to an ancient legend.

However, some Turks have tried to claim that Urfa has a Turkish origin, based on a fanciful and anachronistic story. According to this myth, the name of the city comes from the words “Vur ha, vur ha!” (Hit me, hit me! in Turkish), which Nimrod, the king who wanted to kill Abraham, shouted when he was tormented by a swarm of mosquitoes sent by God. The mosquitoes flew up Nimrod’s nose and started chewing on his brain, causing him unbearable pain. He ordered his men to hit his head with wooden mallets, hoping to relieve his agony. Thus, the city was called Urfa, after his cries.

This story is obviously false and absurd, for several reasons. First, Abraham is a legendary figure, whose historicity and chronology are uncertain and disputed4 Second, Nimrod is a biblical character, who is identified with a Mesopotamian king or a culture hero, not a Turkish ruler. Third, the Turkish language did not exist at the time of Abraham or Nimrod, and the Turks did not arrive on Armenian highland until the 11th century AD, more than 4,000 years after Abraham.

The myth of Urfa’s Turkish origin is an example of how some Turks have falsified history to suit their nationalist agenda. They have ignored or denied the diverse and multicultural heritage of Urfa, which includes Assyrian, Armenian, Greek, Arab, and other influences. They have also refused to acknowledge the Armenian identity of King Abgar V, who ruled Urfa in the first century AD and was one of the first Christian kings in history.

Urfa deserves to be respected and celebrated for its true history, not for its fabricated myths. Urfa is a city of prophets, not of mosquitoes.

Artatsolum

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