Konya

The history of Konya can be linked to the Catalhoyuk archaeological site approx. 60 km south. It is one of the oldest organized human settlements, dated to the 7th millennium BC. The inhabitants of the settlement were hunters, who after some time switched to farming. W samej Lament, on the hill of Alaettin Tepesi (city ​​center), traces of human existence were found as early as the 3rd millennium BC. During the next millennium, the place was inhabited by the Hittites, who called them Amandra or Kuwanna. About 1200 r. p.n.e. The Hittites fell under the pressure of the "sea tribes", and their place was taken in part by the Frygs, who called the settlement Kowania. Phrygian legend says, that Kowania was the first city, which emerged after the great flood, which flooded the earth and almost annihilated the human race.

The Phrygs were indeed closely related to the Greeks, but the latter came here approx. VIII c. p.n.e. They named the city of Ikonion (from gr. eikon – "image"), according to their legend, it was founded by Prometheus, who molded the clay images of people and thus saved the human race from destruction due to the Flood. The Phrygian state collapsed in the 7th century. p.n.e. as a result of the Cimmerias invasion, and its territory was taken by the Lydians. These, in turn, were beaten in 546 r. p.n.e. by the Persians. Like most of the cities of Asia Minor of the Iconion, the Persians were ousted by Alexander the Great in 333 r. p.n.e. In Hellenistic times, the city passed successively under the rule of the Seleucids and the Pergamon kingdom, until finally by the will of the last king of Pergamon, Attalosa III, found itself in 133 r. p.n.e. within the borders of the Roman Empire. The Romans called the city Iconium.

Christianity came to the city early. Saints Paul and Barnabas visited the city several times, preaching the teaching of Jesus, which resulted in the establishment of a Christian community (w III w. a bishop resided here). It is here that St.. Paweł converted Tekla, which accompanied him on his travels, and the end of her life she spent near Seleukea (today Silifke). Because of The Baptism of Thecla, St.. Paul to stone.

In Byzantine times, the city suffered from frequent Arab invasions (successively in VII, VIII to IX c.). After the Battle of Manzikert (1071), when the Seljuks defeated the Byzantine emperor Romanos IV Diogenes, the road to Anatolia was opened to them. They took control of many cities, including Iconium, which they renamed Konya. At the end of the 11th century. Konya became the capital of the Rum Sultanate after the crusaders recaptured Nice (today Iznik), the former capital of the Sultanate, at the hands of the Seljuks. During the Third Crusade, the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa besieged Konya until then, until the Seljuks offered him, that, in return for abandoning the siege, they would provide his army on a further journey to the east. After these events, the city developed peacefully; At that time, many magnificent buildings were erected in Konya to the size of the capital, which are still breathtaking today. It was then that the Order of Rotating Dervishes was established here (also known as the Mevlewite Order). First half. XIII w. was the golden age of the Rum sultanate. The most outstanding sultans ruled the country then, jak Izzeddin I Keykavus i jego syn Alaeddin I Keykobad. After the fall of the Seljuk family at the beginning of the 14th century,. Turkmen from Karaman were staying in Konya, and at the end of the century, the city was captured by the Ottoman Sultan of Beyazid. When he was captured by the Mongols, after Tamerlane's invasion of these lands, the Karamanids began to rule the city again. They were finally driven out of here by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1466 r. and from then on, without much adventures, Konya developed within the borders of the Ottoman Empire.

Events and festivals

Every year in days 10-17 On December, the Mevlana Festival is held in Konya. Once upon a time, dances could be seen in traditional schools, and recently it has been taking place at the stadium. It is difficult to find accommodation in the city during this week, a and tickets should be applied for well in advance – assistance is offered by the Selene travel agency, Ayanbey Sok. 22, tel.: (332) 353 67 45, fax: (332) 353 76 44, e-mail: info@selene.com.tr, http://www.selene.com.tr. Attending the ceremony at least once will be an unforgettable experience. Fortunately, dervish dances can also be seen in Istanbul, and not only in December, but all year round.

Drive, orientation, connections

You can get to Konya from all major cities in western and central Turkey, and according to the proposed route, we will probably come here from Silifke (8 USD, 4 time.) the Adany (9 USD, 5 time).

The bus station is some distance away 6,5 km north of the city center, and the train station approx. 2,5 km west. While from the latter you can reach the center on foot (but we can also get there by dolmus or city bus), it would be quite a walk from the bus station. If the company, which offer we used, coming to Konya, will not provide service, we will have to get to the city on our own by dolmus or by tram. The city center is centered around Alaettin Tepesi (Alaeddin Hill), on which stands one of the most important monuments – Alaeddin Mosque (Alaeddin mosque). The hill is easy to recognize by the surrounding tram line. The main streets are the Alaettin Bulv that runs around the hill. and Alaettin Cad. (from the intersection with Istanbul Cad. this street is called Mevlana Cad ). It takes us to hotels and the main attractions – museum of Mevlana. Going in that direction, you walk past the important Hukumet Meydani (pl. Governmental), where the provincial and municipal authorities are located.