Haran

Haran or Harran (both: härän') [key], ancient city of Mesopotamia, now in SE Asian Turkey, 24 mi (39 km) SE of Şanliurfa. It was an important center on the trade route from Nineveh to Carchemish and the seat of the Assyrian moon god. The Babylonians defeated the Assyrian army at Haran in 609 B.C. Frequently mentioned in the Bible, it was the home of Abraham's family after the migration from Ur. The Greek form of the name is Charan or Charran. In Roman times it was Carrhae.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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