LAKE AYNZELIHA

It is located just south of Lake Halil-ur Rahman, in front of Urfa Castle, and is a lake with an area of 150 m2. The fish in this lake are not eaten because the place is believed to be sacred. According to legend, when Hz. Ibrahim was about to be thrown into the fire, Nemrut's daughter Zeliha said that she believed in Hz. Ibrahim's religion and was thrown into the fire by her father. Zeliha burned to death. Later, a lake formed where Zeliha fell. This lake is called Aynzeliha (Zeliha Lake or Spring).

Aylin Aydemir- Şehitlik Primary School- Şanlıurfa

                 The Legend of Raw Meatballs

The history of raw meatballs dates back to the time of Prophet Abraham (A.S.). According to legend, when Nemrud forbade the city to light fires by collecting fuel to throw Prophet Abraham into the fire, the people wondered what to do. In Urfa, a hunter shot a gazelle and his wife prepared the primitive form of today's raw meatballs, a mixture of meat, bulgur and isot. Her husband liked this raw meatball, which was prepared by pounding the gazelle meat without cooking it. This dish, which emerged out of necessity, has been developed and kept alive for thousands of years.   

Esra AŞKIN -

Şehitlik Primary School

The Legend of Fish Lake

        Nimrod is a ruler who spreads fear and terror to the environment with his cruelty. He interprets the dream he had one night. He learns that one of the children to be born will kill him.He immediately commands that all people born that year use it. Nimrod's soldiers begin to carry out the order. Sarah, the mother of Prophet Abraham, runs away and hides in a cave. She gives birth to her child in this cave and leaves her child here and returns home. A female gazelle breastfeeds the child. Time passes and the soldiers find Ibrahim in the cave. They bring him to the presence of Nimrod. Nimrod, who has no children, likes him and takes Abraham with him and raises him.

Seeing Nimrod's cruelty, injustice and worshiping idols, and the people being forced to worship idols, Abraham says that these idols made by people with their own hands cannot be gods. He tells this idea to the public. The people cannot open their mouths because of fear. One day, when everyone was attending the ceremony, Abraham entered the idols section of the palace, smashed all the idols with an axe, and placed the ax on the largest idol. Those returning from the ceremony become worried and inform Nemrut. Officers Hz. Because they are angry with Abraham, they claim that he can do this. Hz. Abraham is tried, he is asked questions and his answer is "You see, the ax is in the hands of thegreat idol, he probably did this job."

When Nimrod got angry and shouted, "How can a piece of stone take an ax in its hand and do this job?" Hz. Ibrahim said, “This is what I want to say. You hope for help from these pieces of stone you made with your own hands, and expect them to protect you from evil. You worship him as God, make vows to him, and run to him when you are in trouble. When I say "If this is really God, why can't he do such a job?", Nimrod is astonished and orders Abraham to be punished by being thrown into the fire.The wood collected from all over was piled up where today's Balıklı Lake is located, a fire was lit and Ibrahim Aleyhiselam was thrown into the fire with catapults from the top of the hill where today's castle is located. Despite Nimrod's daughter, Zeliha's begging, her father's heart does not soften. When Abraham fell into the fire, this place turned into a lake and a rose garden. The burned wood

becomes fish. This lake was later called Halil-ür Rahman Lake.According to people's belief, this lake and the fish in it are considered sacred. It is believed that those who touch these fish will be in trouble.

Meryem Yılmaz, Şehitlik Primary School, Şanlıurfa-Türkiye

The Legend of Romulus and Remus

The legend says that Rome was foundend by Romulus and Remus. Romulus and Remus  were the sons of the god Mars and Rhea Silvia. To save them from a terrific death, they were placed in a basket and abandoned on the waters of the Tiber River. They were saved by a she-wolf who nursed them. After they raised by two shepherds, Faustulus and Laurentia. When Romulus and Remus grew up and become strong, they returned

to their family. Their  grandfather was  Numitor, king of Albalonga. He asked them to found a new city. Romulus and Remus began to argue, Romulus wanted to build the city on the Palatine Hill, Remus wanted to build the city on the Aventine Hill. They decided that one who saw the most birds would win. Romulus won and drew the boundaries of the new city. Remus was jealous and crossed the boundaries. Romulus killed him and continued to build the new city alone. Romulus became the first King of the most powerfull empire in history.

Emilia Portella (writer of history) and Laura Gigli (audio recording)

class VC IC Rita Levi Montalcini- Rome Italy

The Legend of Karakoyun Creek and Hızmalı Bridge

 A poor mother and son lived in the southeast of the city centuries ago. The son was a slaughterer on the Kasarcı Ka Stream. One day, a dervish who came to the region watched the young man for a few days and then said: "Son, I watched you. I see that you are a hardworking and honest person. I understand that you are in trouble. I will return to my country soon, it is a wealthy place. If you want, you can come with me."

The young man consulted his mother, and her mother allowed him to go, saying that her son should be saved from poverty.

The dervish takes the young man to his lodge and trains him. One day, the young man sees a beautiful girl in the marketplace and falls in love with her. When he investigates, he learns that the girl is the daughter of the Karakoyunlu Bey.

He stops eating and drinking. When the dervish learns the situation, he says, "Don't be sad, we will go and ask for the girl." The next day, he arrives at the palace. He tells the Bey about the situation, the Bey gets angry, but he doesn't say anything so as not to be disrespectful. He tells the dervish that he will give the girl to him if the gifts and money he wants are brought within forty days. It's not like what they want will be completed in forty days. 

Moreover, the dervish is also poor. When the young man learns the situation, he becomes sad and starts to melt away day by day.

On the fortieth day, when the young man wakes up, he sees mules loaded with gold and unknown goods brought by unknown people in the courtyard of the lodge. He runs and tells the dervish. The dervish smiles. He takes them and takes them to the Bey. The Bey, helpless, gives his daughter away and a wedding is established.

The dervish tells the young man to pray two rakats before the wedding and then pray for him.

The young man is so happy and excited after all the adventures he has experienced that he prays, but forgets to pray for the dervish. Since he did not pray for the dervish, when he wakes up the next morning he finds himself on the banks of the Kasarcı Stream. What he has experienced seems like a dream to him. He goes and tells his mother what has happened. There is nothing they can do and they return to their old lives.

 HALİL DEVECİ, ŞEHİTLİK PRIMARY SCHOOL, ŞANLIURFA TÜRKİYE.