This year is the 800th birthday anniversary of Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi, the greatest sufi/mystic/poet of Islamic mystical tradition. Thus, 2007 is announced to be the year of Rumi by UNESCO. He is known as the sun of intellectuality and love. His works of poetry have become the best-sellers in the US. His most famous motto is: "Come whoever you are, come". I drove three hours from my home town Ankara to Konya where Rumi had lived and enjoyed four days there. I am still thinking of paying a second visit there nowadays for a further and detailed exploration.
Konya is built on a flat ground except where only in the center of the city is an artificial hill from the Hittities. It has a population of 800000 and it is somehow compared to some European countries in terms of its population and vast geography.
The city had served as the capital city of Seldjuks and the biggest home for the sufis of the ancient Islamic tradition. It is the most conservative city in Turkey and in some part of the city you may feel like you are in Arabia or Iran. I spotted to see that Konya is as historical as İstanbul considering the aboundancy of its ancient mosques and sufi shrines which are so many to see.
An inner view from the Mosque Of Alaeddin.
The shrines of Seldjuks sultans.
An unfinished and empty shrine.
The only church in the city center.
The shrine of Shamsi Tebrizi -the best friend of Rumi.
I guess she is Diana, the ancient Roman goddess.
A sarcophagus from the Museum of Archeology.
A view of another sarcophagus.
A tomb with a roof cover from the Roman era in the garden of the museum.
The Museum of Thin Minaret originally built to serve as a sufi school. Dated back to 13th cc.
For me here is the heart of the mystical city. The shrine of Rumi looks much more impressive at night. Today it is visited as the Museum of Mevlana. A must to see.
I was lucky enough to witness a show of whirling dervishes performed once a month.
Konya is built on a flat ground except where only in the center of the city is an artificial hill from the Hittities. It has a population of 800000 and it is somehow compared to some European countries in terms of its population and vast geography.
The city had served as the capital city of Seldjuks and the biggest home for the sufis of the ancient Islamic tradition. It is the most conservative city in Turkey and in some part of the city you may feel like you are in Arabia or Iran. I spotted to see that Konya is as historical as İstanbul considering the aboundancy of its ancient mosques and sufi shrines which are so many to see.
An inner view from the Mosque Of Alaeddin.
The shrines of Seldjuks sultans.
An unfinished and empty shrine.
The only church in the city center.
The shrine of Shamsi Tebrizi -the best friend of Rumi.
I guess she is Diana, the ancient Roman goddess.
A sarcophagus from the Museum of Archeology.
A view of another sarcophagus.
A tomb with a roof cover from the Roman era in the garden of the museum.
The Museum of Thin Minaret originally built to serve as a sufi school. Dated back to 13th cc.
For me here is the heart of the mystical city. The shrine of Rumi looks much more impressive at night. Today it is visited as the Museum of Mevlana. A must to see.
I was lucky enough to witness a show of whirling dervishes performed once a month.
)
