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.
Where to
visit
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.
MUSEUMS
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.
İnce 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.
Sırçalı Tomb Monuments
Museum: Established in 1242, the
museum now houses valuable tombstones from
Seljuks and Ottomans. The tilework of the
exterior is striking, and calligraphy
decorates the archway to the courtyard.
Archeological Museum: This small
collection has exhibits from Konya’s
ancient history, including decorated Roman
sarcophagi from Pamphylian, and Hittite
artefacts from Catal Hoyuk (the oldest
known inhabited settlement). There are
also remains from Greek, Byzantine and
early Bronze Ages.
Atatürk Museum: In the museum;
private belongings, clothes, photographs,
and documents are being exhibited.
Ethnography Museum: Exhibits
include traditional Konya suits, handmade
items of clothing, belts, knitted purses,
weapons and coin collections.
Koyunoğlu Museum: Izzet
Koyunluoglu, a member of an old Konya
family, established a museum in his house
which holds his own private collection.
The vast array of exhibits includes
historical works of art, books that he had
collected over many years, illuminated
manuscripts, kilims and carpets. The
archaeological section containing coins,
fossils, jewellery and Bronze Age relics.
Akşehir Archeological Museum:
Exhibits include items from the Hittite,
Phrygian, Lydian, Roman and Byzantine
ages.
Ereğli Museum:
Archaeological and ethnographic exhibits
date back to the Hittite, Phrygian, Greek,
Roman, and Byzantine ages, and there are
also works of Turkish Islamic art.
