First Martyrdom Site of Anatolian Turks

The place called Cennet Çukuru (Heaven Pit), where Seljuk soldiers who came to Konya were martyred and which holds the distinction of being the first martyrdom site of Anatolian Turks, draws attention with its large tombstones.

In the center of the Selçuklu district of Konya, there is a place called Cennet Çukuru located within Musalla Cemetery, which holds the distinction of being the largest cemetery in Konya.

Cennet Çukuru is reputed to be the area where the advance units of Seljuk soldiers, who entered Anatolia after the 1071 Battle of Malazgirt, came to Konya and were captured and martyred by Byzantine soldiers who were present in the city at that time.

When Konya was later conquered by the Seljuks in subsequent years, this area was designated as a martyrdom site, and large tombstones made of Sille stones were erected for the martyrs.

The inscriptions on these tombstones that have survived to the present day also attract the attention of visitors to the cemetery.