View source for Harran

=== Early history ===
[[File:Syria2mil.JPG|thumb|Harran and other major cities of ancient Syria]]
Harran is situated at an important geographical crossroad, both between the [[Euphrates]] and [[Tigris]] rivers and at the border between the ancient [[Mesopotamia]]n and [[Anatolian peoples|Anatolian]] cultures. The earliest known settlements in the region surrounding Harran date to 10000–8000 BC and settlements in its close vicinity are known to have existed by 6000&nbsp;BC.{{Sfn|Başaran|2011|p=544}} The region was linked to the [[Sumerians]], and was occupied by [[Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples|ancient Semitic-speaking people]] around 2750&nbsp;BCE.{{sfn|Binici|Binici|Akcan|Yardim|2020|p=1019}} The earliest written records concerning Harran suggest that the city itself was founded {{circa|2500}}{{sfn|Özdeniz|Bekleyen|Gönül|Gönül|1998|p=478}}–2000&nbsp;BCE{{sfn|Frew|1999}}{{sfn|Green|1992|p=19}} as a merchant outpost by traders from the Sumerian city of [[Ur]].{{Sfn|Frew|1999}}{{sfn|Green|1992|p=19}}

The first clear evidence about Harran comes from the [[Ebla tablets|inscribed clay tablets found at]] [[Ebla]], dating to the {{nobr|24th century BCE.}} These tablets provide good information about the social and administrative life of Harran during the Early [[Bronze Age]]. Harran is mentioned in the [[Ebla tablets]] alongside the cities of Urshun and Irrite; at that time, the ruler of Harran was a queen named Zugalum.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harran |url=http://www.tayproject.org/TAYages.fm$Retrieve?CagNo=1267&html=ages_detail_e.html&layout=web |website=tayproject.org}}</ref>

Harran was from early on associated with the Mesopotamian moon-god [[Sin (mythology)#Nanna|Nanna]] (later named [[Sin (mythology)#Names|Sin]]){{sfn|Frew|1999}} and soon became regarded as a sacred city of the moon.{{sfn|Bosworth|2003|pp=13–14}}{{sfn|Pingree|2002|p=8}} Harran's great moon temple, the [[Sin (mythology)#Eḫulḫul|Eḫulḫul]] ("Temple of Rejoicing"),{{sfn|Green|1992|p=21}} was already present in the city by {{circa|2000&nbsp;BCE.}} {{Sfn|Lloyd|Brice|Gadd|1951|p=|pp=87–88}} Sin was also a major deity in Ur, which also housed his main temple,{{sfn|Healey|2018|p=57}} but Harran's affinity for the moon can perhaps also be explained by its geography and climate: According to Donald Frew, in the hot and desolate landscape surrounding Harran the sun was a natural enemy, whereas the night (and thus the moon) were more comforting.{{sfn|Frew|1999}} The sun-god [[Shamash]] is however also thought to have had a temple in Harran. Another prominent deity in the city was Sin's son [[Nuska|Nusku]], the god of light.{{sfn|Glassé|2003|p=171}}

Although next to nothing is known of the architecture and layout of Harran prior to the Middle Ages,{{sfn|Bienkowski|Millard|2000|p=140}} the city is believed to have been designed according to some vaguely moon-shaped plan.{{sfn|Bosworth|2003|pp=13–14}} Medieval sources allude to its shape, but what kind of ‘moon shape’ those sources meant is unclear.{{sfn|Rice|1952|p=38}}

The religious authorities of Harran, speaking on behalf of Sin, were considered suitable guarantors and signatories in political treaties. Already {{circa|2000&nbsp;BCE,}} a peace treaty was sealed in the Eḫulḫul between [[Mari, Syria|Mari]] and an [[Amorites|Amorite]] tribe called the [[Yamhad|Yaminites]]. Further treaties signed that invoke Sin of Harran include a {{nobr|14th century BCE}} treaty between {{nobr|[[Šuppiluliuma I]]}} of the Hittites and [[Shattiwaza]] of [[Mitanni]], and an {{nobr|8th century BCE}} treaty between the Assyrian king {{nobr|[[Ashur-nirari V]] }}and [[Mati'ilu]] of [[Arpad, Syria|Arpad]].{{sfn|Lloyd|Brice|Gadd|1951|p=|pp=87–88}}