Mevlana Museum

The Mevlana Museum is a historical, cultural, and faith-based museum established during the Republican era by converting the former Mevlana Dergâhı complex, centered around the tomb of the great Sufi mystic Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. The museum houses architectural elements related to the Mevlevi tradition, spaces reflecting the life of the order, and a large number of valuable manuscripts and artistic works, serving as a center documenting Sufi culture from the Seljuk, Karamanid, and Ottoman periods.

Mevlana Museum (Pexels)

History and Architecture

The land on which the Mevlana Museum stands was originally a rose garden belonging to a palace granted by Seljuk Sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubat to Mevlana’s father, Sultanü’l-Ulemâ Bahâeddin Veled. After Bahâeddin Veled’s death in 1231 and his burial on this site, the location became a place of pilgrimage and formed the core of the Mevlana Külliyesi. Following Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi’s death on 17 December 1273, he was buried beside his father’s grave. Although Mevlana had opposed the construction of a tomb over his grave during his lifetime, it was built after his death with the permission of his son, Sultan Veled.

The tomb erected over Mevlana’s grave, known as Kubbe-i Hadra or the Green Dome, was constructed in 1274 by architect Tebrizli Bedrettin on four elephant-shaped pillars. Over time, additional structures were added around the tomb: a semahane, mosque, dervish cells, kitchen, şadırvan, and cemetery areas. The dergâh complex attained its present architectural unity especially during the 16th century under Ottoman rule. The Mevlana Dergâhı was closed in 1925 under the Law on the Abolition of Dergâhs and Zaviyes, and reopened to the public in 1926 as the Konya Ancient Artifacts Museum. In 1954, following a new reorganization, it was officially named the Mevlana Museum.

Sections of the Museum

The Mevlana Museum features a large külliye layout with Mevlana’s tomb at its center. Entry to the museum is through the Dervişân Gate on the western side; the courtyard contains a şadırvan, cemetery areas, and several tombs. The Şeb-i Arûs Pool and its covered şadırvan were built in 1512 during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. Around the tomb, burial grounds known as Hâmûşân, Neyzenler, Huzûr-ı Pîr, and Valideler were established as resting places for prominent figures of the Mevlevi tradition.

Area Around the Tomb (Mevlana Türbesi)

The central section of the museum, Huzûr-ı Pîr, encompasses the tomb chamber beneath the Kubbe-i Hadra. This section houses marble sarcophagi belonging to Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi and his son Sultan Veled, as well as a Seljuk-era wooden carved sarcophagus belonging to Mevlana’s father, Sultanü’l-Ulemâ Bahâeddin Veled. Above these sarcophagi are burial coverings commissioned by Sultan II. Abdülhamid in 1894, adorned with gold embroidery. The Tilâvet Odası, located at the entrance to the tomb, now serves as a hall displaying calligraphic works; the Gümüş Kapı (Silver Gate), which provides access to the tomb, was gifted to the dergâh by Hasan Paşa in 1599.

Mevlana Tomb (Culture Portal)

The Semâhâne and Mescit within the museum complex were constructed in the 16th century and were used by the Mevlevis for their sema ceremonies. Today, these spaces have been converted into halls displaying artifacts related to Mevlevi culture. Exhibits in the vitrines include garments attributed to Mevlana and Şems-i Tebrîzî, Mevlevi coins, ney, kudüm, rebab, and other musical instruments, as well as manuscript copies of the Mesnevî and Divân-ı Kebîr. Original architectural features such as the Müezzin Mahfili and Mesnevîhan Kürsüsü have been preserved in the mosque section.

Matbah-ı Şerif, built in 1584 during the reign of Sultan III. Murat, served both as the dergâh’s kitchen and as a center for dervish training. This space holds particular significance as the site where the Mevlevi training process known as the “1001-day trial” was conducted. Today, the kitchen section is displayed with copper cauldrons, kitchen utensils, and reconstructions illustrating daily life of the period. The Dedegân Hücreleri, located on the north and west sides of the courtyard, were the cells where dervishes lived and received training; some have been restored as postnişin and mesnevîhan rooms and opened to visitors.

Plan of Matbah-ı Şerif (Mevlana Türbesi)

• Huzûr-u Pîr (Tomb Chamber): Access to the tomb chamber is through the silver gate built in 1599 by Hasan Paşa, son of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa. Within the chamber, sarcophagi of Mevlana, his son Sultan Veled, his father Bahâeddin Veled, and numerous prominent Mevlevi figures are displayed. Among the decorative plaques adorning the chamber are famous sayings of Mevlana.
• Semâhane: The semahane, constructed during the reign of Kanunî Sultan Süleyman, is a significant space where Mevlevi rituals were performed. Here, instruments of Mevlevi music and elements related to sema ceremonies are exhibited.

Semâhane (Mevlana Türbesi)

• Mescit: The mosque draws attention through its Müezzin Mahfili and Mesnevîhan Kürsüsü. Exhibits here include calligraphic panels and various manuscript works.
• Derviş Hücreleri: Seventeen cells were built in 1584 by Sultan III. Murat for the residence of dervishes. Today, these cells display reconstructions and ethnographic artifacts illustrating the daily life of Mevlevi dervishes.
• Matbah (Kitchen Section): The kitchen, commissioned by Sultan III. Murat, was used by dervishes for meals and training. Exhibits here focus on Mevlevi culinary traditions.

Valuable Artifacts in the Museum

The Mevlana Museum preserves over 4,000 manuscripts from the Seljuk, Karamanid, and Ottoman periods through its specialized library. The museum’s collection includes early manuscript copies of the Mesnevî written shortly after Mevlana’s death, manuscripts of the Divân-ı Kebîr, early Qur’an fragments written in Kufic script, and numerous examples of calligraphy, illumination, and miniature painting. Additionally, the Nisan Tası, silver cages, healing vessels, lamps, and wooden and metal ritual objects are among the museum’s most striking artifacts.

• Mevlana’s Sarcophagus: Crafted in the Anatolian Seljuk style in 1274, Mevlana’s wooden sarcophagus was restored during the Ottoman period by Kanunî Sultan Süleyman.
• Pûşîde (Burial Covering): Commissioned by Sultan II. Abdülhamid in 1895 from silk fabric, the burial covering is adorned with gold thread embroidery.
• Manuscript of the Mesnevî: The ‘Nüsha-i Kadîm’, written five years after Mevlana’s death in 1278 by calligrapher Mehmed bin Abdullah Konevî in naskh script.
• Kur’ân-ı Kerîm: A Qur’an dated 1268, written in naskh script by the calligrapher Yâkût el-Musta‘sımî from the Seljuk period, is among the museum’s most important manuscripts.
• Nisan Tası: This basin, made in 1327 by Ilkhanid ruler Abu Sa‘id Bahadur Khan using a silver and gold inlay technique on bronze, was presented to the Mevlana Dergâhı. It was used to collect rainwater during the Nisan rains and distributed to visitors as a healing offering.