Balıklıgöl

Balıklıgöl (Ayn-i Zeliha and Halil-Ür Rahman Lakes), located in the southwest of Şanlıurfa city center and where it is believed that the Prophet Abraham was thrown into the fire, is one of the most famous lakes of Şanlıurfa with its fish (carps) that are mythologically sacred to the Islamic world and the historical artifacts around them. It is one of the most visited historical places.

According to historical and scientific data, Balıklıgöl pools are ancient pagan temples built for the goddess Atargatis, who is half woman and half fish. It is estimated that it was built at an unclear date between 1000-300 BC. Today, in Israel, Lebanon and Syria, there are fish ponds dedicated to the goddess Atargatis, where it is forbidden to touch or eat the fish.

Apart from Islamic mythology, there are also Jewish and Christian mythologies on the Balıklıgöl plateau.

While swimming competitions were held in the lakes until the 1970s, after the 1970s the lake was deemed sacred and swimming in the lakes and eating its fish were prohibited. Today, many Islamic researchers have firmly accepted that the Islamic mythology of Balıklıgöl is a superstition and a fabrication and that the pools belong to ancient pagan temples.

It is said among the people that the fish inside are sacred and those who eat the fish get sick. There is a species of barbel carp in the lake. Since the caviar of this species is poisonous, eating it is harmful to human health.

It achieved its current appearance with the restoration of the 'Dergah and Balıklıgöl Landscaping Project' designed by Architect Merih Karaaslan under the consultancy of Architect Behruz Çinici. The project started in 1992 and most of it was completed in 2000. Today, it is undergoing partial restorations under the same project name.