Southeast Türkiye forms the northern border of the Fertile Crescent, a region with rich soil and history. Fed by the waterways of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers over thousands of years, the Fertile Crescent has been home to a variety of cultures, rich agriculture, and trade. At the westernmost point of this region in Türkiye, the city of Gaziantep is home to the ancient city of Doliche, known today as Dülük, formed over a mound in prehistoric times. Twin mithraea, underground temples for the worship of the god Mithras, were discovered in the caves of this ancient settlement dating back to the 1st-3rd century AD. These were important cult centers of Mithras in Southeast Anatolia.
Mardin is situated at the center of Mesopotamia, the incredibly rich region between the two mighty rivers, Tigris and Euphrates. As a result, it is a fortunate city, blessed by history. Southeastern Türkiye, at the hearth of Upper Mesopotamia, is a multireligious and multicultural province. Mardin was the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch for hundreds of years. People of many beliefs live in Mardin and carry within them the legacy of the people and cultures that came before them.
The history of Şanliurfa dates back to the Paleolithic Age. The city and its surrounding region experienced the domination of many civilizations including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Hittites, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Hurrians, the Kingdom of Mitanni, Arameans, Assyrians, Medians, and the Persian Empires.
With a history of 12,000 years, Şanlıurfa, believed by some to be the ancient city of Ur Kaśdim (Ur of the Chaldeans), proudly exhibits the legacy of all the civilizations that have prospered in the region.
Abraham’s Path traces the journey of the Prophet Abraham (revered as the father of monotheism by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike) from his birthplace in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye, to his final resting place, traversing several countries.