Sogmatar Ancient City
The ancient city of Sogmatar, located 53 km from Harran in Sanliurfa, is dated to the 2nd century AD. It has been scientifically determined that the region was a cult center where the people of Harran worshipped the moon and planet gods in the Tektek Mountains region during the Abgar Kingdom Period.The word Sogmatar comes from the Arabic word “Matar” meaning rain. The water collected in many cisterns and wells in this region of the Tektek Mountains, which receives plenty of rain in winter, used to meet the summer water needs of the sheep and goat herds grazing in the mountains. Because of this feature; the village is still known as “Yağmurlu” today.
In the cult site of Sogmatar; there is a cave where the moon god Sin was worshipped (Pognon Cave), a hill with reliefs of gods on the slopes and inscriptions carved on the ground (Sacred Hill), 6 square and round mausoleums (Mausoleum), an inner castle and many rock tombs carved into the bedrock.
Sogmatar was founded by the people fleeing from the region due to the intense attacks of the Parthians (Iranians) on the Urfa region in 165 AD and maintained its cult center feature until the Islamic Period.
