Urfah is situated on the gentle slope of a bill, and extends into the plain below, which is covered with gardens for ten miles beyond the walls on the east and south-east. A small stream, called the Kara Koyoon, runs along the northern side of the town, and is crossed by three bridges leading severally to the Semsât, Serai, and Yeni Kapoosi, gates; it then turns to the north-east, and flows through the gardens into the open country beyond. The citadel occupies the summit of a hill to the southwest, and connects the turreted wall which extends round the town in an irregular circle. There are two gates besides those already mentioned, the Bâk Kapoosi to the north-east, and the Harrân Kapoosi facing the south. The citadel is of an oblong shape, and is surrounded by a fosse cut in the solid rock, and measuring 90 feet wide and about 250 feet deep. We were admitted by an iron-plated door into the enclosed area, which we found strewed over with heaps of ruins and rubbish. The entrance appears to have been originally defended by three curtains, each containing a strong gate, all commanded by the bastions above, which must have given the garrison great advantage in case of an attack. It is clear, however, that it was not designed to resist artillery, seeing that it is overlooked by several adjacent hills on the south-west and west. The principal Greek or Roman relics are two large marble pillars, raised at a short distance from the gate of the citadel. The shafts consist of several pieces, crowned with Corinthian capitals, and appear to have been once furnished with narrow steps, cut into the body of the pillars, but for what purpose we could not decide. To our great delight we saw on one an inscription in the Estrangheli or old Syriac character, which after some trouble we succeeded in copying; but unfortunately it is so defaced that I have not been able fully to decipher it. Neither the language nor the character is pure Syriac, the former appears to be mixed with Arabic words, and the latter with Hebrew letters. The subjoined is an attempt to translate the original, the true signification of which I shall leave it to the more learned to decide.
"I Afteh Nell … the son of … the son of …—shert … this pillar … Hadrianta of the world … was surrendered by the queen, the daughter of Maako …"[1]
- ↑ Maako among the Jacobites and Armenians of Urfah means Margaret.
