Urfa and Abraham

Here is where Abraham was born. It is said that he would as born in a cave (1st picture) as King Nimrod is said to have ordered a slaughter of the innocents. Somehow, Abe was presented to the king who adopted him. Later, Abraham became anti-idolotry and defaced some of the king's idols. His punishment was to be a thrown into the fire from the top of the castle (between the columns in picture 2). When he landed, the fire turned to water and the logs to fish (pictures 3&4 are if that). The entire complex today houses a mosque, madrassa, library and Hammam.
I suspect been by tossed was enough incentive for Abe to get out of town. (See Harran post.)Read more