Balıklıgöl, located in the southwest of Şanlıurfa city center, is one of the most visited historical places in Şanlıurfa with its fishes, which are believed to be sacred to the Islamic world, and the historical artifacts around them.
Balıklıgöl
AttractionsAccording to historical and scientific data, Balıklıgöl pools are ancient pagan temples built for the goddess Atargatis, who is half woman half fish. It is estimated that it was built at an uncertain date between 1.000-300 BC. Today, in Israel, Lebanon and Syria, there are fish ponds dedicated to the goddess Atargatis, where it is forbidden to touch and eat the fish. Apart from Islamic mythology, there are also Jewish and Christian mythologies on the Balıklıgöl plateau. While swimming and swimming competitions were held in the lakes until the 1970s, after the 1970s, the lake was given a sacred name and swimming in the lakes and eating the fish were prohibited. It acquired its present appearance with the restoration of the 'Dergah and Balıklıgöl Landscaping Project'. The project started in 1992 and most of it was completed in 2000. Today, it is undergoing partial restorations under the same project name.
Address
Camikebir, Balıklı Göl Cd., 63000 Eyyübiye/Şanlıurfa