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Konya
Konya is a city in Central Anatolia in Turkey which has protected its name
for centuries. Legend says that Perseus killed a dragon that had been
ravaging the town. The people set up a special monument to honor him, a
stone obelisk with an icon of Perseus carved in it. This event gave the
city it's name, Ikonyon, Ikonyum, Iconium.
However, among Muslims, another legend is told. Two dervishes, friends of
Allah, were making an excursion through the skies from the far away
countries of Horasan toward the west. When they flew over the lands of
central Anatolia, one asked the other, "Shall I land?" ("Konayim mi?").
The other answered, "Sure, land." ("Kon ya!") So, they landed and founded
the city of Konya.
Archaeology shows that the Konya region is one of the most ancient
settlements of Anatolia. The results of excavations in Catalhöyük,
Karahöyük, Cukurkent and Kucukoy show the region was inhabited as far back
as the Neolithic Period (Late Stone Age) of BC 7000. Other settlers of the
city before Islam were; the Calcolitic Period (Copper Age) civilizations,
Bronze Age civilizations, Hittites, Frigians, Lidians, Persians, Romans
and finally Byzantines.
Konya is an important place for Christians as well because St. Paul and St.
Barnabas came to the city on one of their journeys in Asia Minor around 50
AD. St. Paul preached in Konya but they angered both Jews and Gentiles so
they had to leave the city and went to Derbe and Lystra.
The first exposure of the city to Islam happened during the time of the
Caliph Muaviya. Later, attacks made by Arabic Muslims, whether Emevi's or
Abbasi's, yielded no results. Konya's real meeting with and adopting of
Islam began some time after the victory of Seljuks at Malazgirt in 1071,
in the time of Kutalmisoglu Suleyman. The attacks of the Crusaders from
1076 to the end of the 12th century could not wrench the city from Islam.
Konya was the capital of Seljuks between 1071 and 1308. In 1220 Alaaddin
Keykubad I repaired the city wall and decorated them with towers. But the
city has been the site of a power - struggle between the Seljuks,
Karamanoglu's, Mongols, and Ilhan's and it changed hands a few times. In
the time of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, in 1466, Konya joined the lands of the
Ottoman Empire. The first general census was made by the sultan and
repeated in the time of Bayazit II, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman, and Murad III.
In the time of Kanuni Suleyman, the city, which had been named as Karaman
ili, reached the status of statehood. The borders of the Karaman state,
which included the regions of Larende (Karaman), Seydisehri, Beysehri,
Nigde, Kayseri (Cesarea), Aksaray, Maras, Elbistan, and Bozok, were
reduced when Maras became its own state and Bozok was added to another
state.
Konya was affected by the Celali Rebellion. This rebellion was an outcome
of the instability in the Ottoman government and land orders in the
Ottoman army was defeated by the command of Ibrahim Pasa, Grand Vizir of
Sultan Suleyman, in the Battle of Konya.
The borders of the province of Konya, which was set up in 1867, included
Nigde, Isparta, Icel and Teke Sanjaks. In the same year, the city was
affected by a big fire and in 1873 suffered a serious famine.
In the 19th century the city appeared shabby and neglected and the city
walls were in ruins and even the mosques were in terrible conditions. Many
of the more recent houses were made of bricks and their lifespan was not
more than 100-150 years. Commercial activity was slow. But at the end of
the century, in 1896, after the railway to Eskisehir was opened,
commercial activity was revived. After 1902, farming with machines
developed. The period of sultan Abdul Hamid II was a productive one for
Konya. Transport, education and restoration works flourished the city as
they did in the whole of the country.
The First World War caused the decrease of manpower in Konya and
throughout the country. During the occupation of Anatolia by the Allies,
Konya's railway station was run by the British (January 1919). The Italian
powers which occupied the city in April 1919, left the city in March 1920
during the Independence War led by Atatürk.
The most important place to visit in Konya is Mevlana's Mausoleum, the
mystic poet on the way of sufism and the founder of the Whirling Dervish
order. Apart from that there is Karatay Medrese, which was a theological
school used as tiles museum today, Alaaddin Keykubat Mosque from 12th
century and Ince Minare (Thin Minaret) Mosque.
ANCIENT CITIES
Çatalhöyük: This ancient site, 50km
south-east of Konya, is said to be the first settlement in the world with
houses and sacred buildings dating back to 6800 BC. The remains were
discovered by British archaeologists in 1958, and research shows 13
different strata with evidence of houses that had to be entered by holes
in the roof as there were no streets. There is little left at the site,
except the remains of mud brick houses, murals, plaster reliefs and
pottery. Construction was from adobe, wood and reed, and most of the
findings are now in the Konya Museum of Archaeology.
It is possible to get most of the way by minibus, then a taxi for the
remaining 10 miles.
Clistra Antic City: The ancient city
of Kilistra is 55km south-west of Konya, and was one of the first places
that St Paul gave sermons. The area is famous for its archaeological
carvings and buildings cut into the rock, the best examples of which are
the Hadj Plank Chapel, Sumbul Church, Double Sirahane, and Great Water
Cistern Chapel. The best way of getting to the area is by private
transport, although there may be buses going part of the way from Konya.
Sille Aya - Elena Church: The tiny
village of Sille, 8km northwest of Konya, has a long and interesting
history. Helena, mother of Byzantine Emperor Constanine, stopped in Konya
during her journey to Jerusalem for a Hajj pilgrimage in 327 AD, and after
seeing the engraved temples here belonging to the first ages of
Christianity, she too decided to construct a temple. The Sille Aya, or
Elena Church, contains a rostrum and some fairly well preserved murals,
which are unique works of art. It is thought that this church was in use
until 1923. The village also has old stone bridges, other churches and the
remains of frescoes. Sille is reached by bus number 64 from Konya.
Mevlana Museum: The museum is housed
in the first tekke (lodge) of the Dervish sect, and is considered to be a
holy place because it contains the tomb of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, one of
the most important philosophers of Turkish Islamic Mysticism. It is
thought that the site was presented by the Seljuk sultans to the dervishes,
and the buildings which were mostly constructed during the 15th and 16th
centuries, are attractive and ornate.
Mevlana Turbesi (tomb) is surrounded by the tombs of his son and father,
and all are heavily decorated and a place of utmost respect. (Visitors
should not wear shorts, and women should cover their heads.) Many Muslims
come here to pray, and pay their respects to the philosopher who extolled
the virtues of music and dance, humility and compassion.
The museum also contains the cells, chapel and hall in which the Mevlana
would teach, and musical items, clothing and manuscripts which the
dervishes once used. The rooms surrounding the beautiful courtyard are
furnished in the style of the period, with ornate artwork and
architectural features.
Karatay Museum (Theological School):
The Seljuk Theological School was constructed by Emir Celaleddin Karatay
in 1251, and inside is an extensive collection of ceramics and tiles from
the Seljuk and Ottoman times. The beautiful marble portal is a great
example of ornate Islamic art, combining Greek, Arabic and Seljuk
architectural styles. One of the highlights is the dome of stars, which
represents the heavens using distinctive shades of blue tiles,
inscriptions quoting the first chapter of the holy Quran, and the names of
the prophets.
Ince Minare Museum (Theological School):
To the west of Alaeddin Tepesi is the Ince Minare Medrese, built by
the Seljuk Vizier Sahip Ata Fahrettin Ali in 1254. Its main exhibits are
carvings in wood and stone dating back to the Seljuks, and most carry
motifs found in the tiles and ceramics, lions, humans, and the double-headed
eagles which is mow a symbol of the town. The main doorway has stunning
examples of ornate tiles and decorative calligraphy.
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