Konya / Turkey

It is located on the Central Anatolian plateau. The name of the city in the Scythian/ Galatian language is Kawawana, meaning "the country where sheep (or goats) are bred", and from the fertile lands it appears that sheep, cows and lambs were raised in the area. The name of the city which was situated at the border Lycaonia-Galatia later became Ikonia. The Haiti and Galatian tribes included in the Etruscan tribes who moved southwards from the Balkans and via Caucasia circa 3000 B.C., settled down in Central Anatolia. According to Eflatun Pmar rock-carvings 40 km to the west of Konya and the prehistoric remains found on the Hill of Alaaddin in the city centre, it is presumed that the area was an old settlement place. The Hill of Alaaddin was essentially a prehistoric mound, raised with the piling of earth and stone upon it at various times. The area was annexed to the Hittite Empire circa 1400 B.C. and subsequently brought under the rules of Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Macedonians, Seleucids, Kingdom of Pergamum, Romans and, after the disintegration of the Roman empire, Byzantines. Notwithstanding that Turks came to the area for some time in 1069 the main Turkish sovereignty began in 1071 . In 1097 Anatolian Seljuk State was founded, with Konya proclaimed as the capital. Konya which experienced its period of prosperity during this time was later brought under the jurisdictions of the Karamanoglu Turkomans followed by the Ottoman State in 1512. The most important personage of Konya is the worldwide famous "Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi". Mevlana who taught in Medrese established "the Mevlevi Order Sufi Philosophy". According to this, besides the imperative prayer to God, the necessity of whirling prayer is also emphasized. In the faith of Mevlevi Order, §eb-i Aruz rituals are performed in Konya every year. The essence of Mevlana's philosophy can be explained as "Still come whoever you may be".

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