Mevlana's Convent and Museum:

Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi lived in the thirteenth century, during the culminatien period of the arts and letters of the Anatolian Seljuks. He greatly contributed to ihe age with. his original sufi philosophy` (Tasavvuf) and literary writings. Mevlana was the  founder of a Muslim sect which is cailed 'Mevlevi" after his name. After his death Mevlane was buried in a rose garden outside ttie ciTy. walis of Konya. This simple garden was transtormed into a sacred . precinot through the construnction of various buildings in different periods. The tomb of Mevlana, the Mevlevi Convent (dergah), ' the mosque and whirliog hall (semahane) are some of them.


 

The entrance to ahe tomb, masjid and semahane section is provided through a vestibule which was . preserved for the preachers of the Kor'an. The tomb of Mevlana with irs turquoise coloured conical hat on top is the most remarkable pan of the comolex. This kumbet-shaped dome was built by Gurcu Hatun, the wife of the vezier . Muinuddin Pervane in 1274 and fater restored by Alaaddin Bey in the fourteenth century. On the north of the tomb is a kind of domed vestibule where dervishes were gathering before the sema (whirling) ceremony. Semahane is a large square space covered with a dome and flanked by private lodges for the musicians and. spectators. On the west of the semahane is a masjid covered with a dome. This masjid and. Semahane were founded by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificient (Law-Maker) .in the sixteenth century. The. courtyard of the convant are flanked. by some dervish cells on the northern and western sides. The large room on the south-western side was preserved for the sheikh (religious leader) of the convent and there is a kitchen edjacent to it.