Destination Guides Turkey

Konya

Konya (Ottoman Turkish: قونیه; also Koniah, Konieh, Konia, and Qunia; historically also known as Iconium (Latin), Greek: Ἰκόνιον Ikónion) is a city in Turkey, on the central plateau of Anatolia. It has a population of 1,412,343 (in 2007). Excavations have shown that the region was inhabited during the Late Copper Age, around 3000 BC. The city came under the influence of the Hittites around 1500 BC. These were overtaken by the Indo-European Sea Peoples around 1200 BC. The Phrygians established their kingdom in central Anatolia in the 8th century BC. Xenophon describes Iconium, as the city was called, as the last city of Phrygia. The region was overwhelmed by Cimmerian invaders c. 690 BC. It was later part of the Persian Empire, until Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. Alexanders empire broke up shortly after his death and the town came under the rule of Seleucus I Nicator. During the Hellenistic period the town was ruled by the kings of Pergamon. When Attalus III, the last king of Pergamon, died childless, he bequeathed his empire to Rome. Under the rule of emperor Claudius, the citys name was changed to Claudioconium, and during the rule of emperor Hadrianus to Colonia Aelia Hadriana. Iconium was visited by Saint Paul and Barnabas, according to the Book of Acts, in 47, 50 and 53 AD. In Christian legend, it was also the birthplace of Saint Thecla. During the Byzantine Empire the town was destroyed several times by Arab invaders in the 7th-9th centuries.

Blue Cruises Turkey, Yacht Charters Turkey, Sailing Tours Turkey. Yacht, Gulet Holidays - V-GO Yachting

Whirling Dervishes

The Mevleviye, one of the most well known of the Sufi orders, was founded in 1273 by Rumis followers after his death, particularly by his successor Husamettin Celebi who decided to build a mausoleum for Mevlâna, and then Mevlânas son, Sultan Veled Celebi (or Celebi, Chelebi) (the word Celebi means fully initiated). He was an accomplished Sufi mystic with great organizing talents. His personal efforts were continued by his successor Ulu Arif Celebi. The Mevlevi, or The Whirling Dervishes, believe in performing their dhikr in the form of a dance and music ceremony called the sema. The Sema represents a mystical journey of mans spiritual ascent through mind and love to Perfect. Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at the Perfect. He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation. The sema was practised in the semahane (ritual hall) according to a precisely prescribed symbolic ritual with the dervished whirling in a circle around their sheikh, who is the only one circling around his axis. The dervishes wear a white gown (symbol of death), a wide black cloak (hirka) (symbol of the grave) and a high brown cap (kûlah), symbol of the tombstone.

Blue Cruises Turkey, Yacht Charters Turkey, Sailing Tours Turkey. Yacht, Gulet Holidays - V-GO Yachting

Tinaztepe Sinkhole and Cave

One can reach to cave from Konya-Beysehir-Seydisehir through the Mortas Aluminium Company. The total length is 1650m. and depth is 65m. it is located south-west slope of Tinaztepe. The cave is developed from two parts fossil and active. If one will go to fossil part in spring, have to pass 5 lakes by boat. In autumn the level of water decreases so that the same gallery can be passed by foot. After the last lake the cave reaches to Great Hall with a descend of 30m. This hall is ended with a lake. Tinaztepe Sinkhole is located beneath the Tinaztepe Cave. The total length of sinkhole is 1550m. and depth is -150m. The water falls down to duden during the year. With a vertical pits of 20m. one can enter the cave from the side of waterfall.

Blue Cruises Turkey, Yacht Charters Turkey, Sailing Tours Turkey. Yacht, Gulet Holidays - V-GO Yachting