Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

harran

 - 3 dictionary results
Ha·ran or Har·ran   (hä-rän')   
An ancient city of Mesopotamia in present-day southeast Turkey. It was an important trading post and a religious center devoted to the Assyrian moon god.
Har·ran   (hä-rän')   
See Haran.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia

Harran

ancient city of strategic importance, now a village, in southeastern Turkey. It lies along the Balikh River, 24 miles (38 km) southeast of Urfa. The town was located on the road that ran from Nineveh to Carchemish and was regarded as of considerable importance by the Assyrian kings. Its chief cult in Assyrian times was that of the moon god. It is frequently mentioned in the Bible; Abraham's family settled there when they left Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:31-32).

Learn more about Harran with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see harran on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: