From Dervish Lodge to Museum, From Konya to the World

The Konya Mevlana Lodge, developed around Rumi's tomb, serves as the central residence of the Mevlevi order, which has profoundly influenced both Turkish cultural life and spiritual heritage.

This is the central organization for over 170 Mevlevihanes scattered throughout the Ottoman Empire. Following the establishment of the Republic, the Konya Mevlana Lodge, like other dervish lodges, was closed. However, in 1926, at the request of Atatürk, it was opened to the public as the Konya Asar-ı Atika. Today, the museum welcomes nearly three million visitors annually, both local and foreign, showcasing Mevlevi ethnographic artifacts as well as objects donated by sultans and statesmen from the Seljuk, Karamanoğlu, and Ottoman periods. In 1954, after extensive exhibition and reorganization works, Konya Asar-ı Atika Museum was restructured and renamed the Mevlana Museum. The archaeological collections were transferred to the İplikçi Mosque. During a restoration carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2011, dervish cells were restored to their original form, and an exhibit was added to showcase the services of the Mevlana Lodge. In 2021, it was separated from the Konya Museum Directorate and became an independent entity under the name Mevlana Museum.

The Oldest Structure: The Mausoleum

The oldest structure within the Mevlana Museum is Rumi’s mausoleum, built in 1274. The tomb was designed by the architect Bedreddin of Tabriz, at the request of Alâmeddin Kayser’s wife and Emir Süleyman Pervane from the Seljuk Palace, Gürcü Hatun. Over time, the masjid and semahane built during the Seljuk period on the northern side of the tomb became inadequate. As a result, in the 16th century, during the Ottoman period, the current semahane, masjid, matbah-ı sherif, dervish cells, and fountain were constructed.

Worldwide Spread

After Rumi's passing, his close friend and secretary, Çelebi Hüsameddin, became the sheikh of his followers. Following his death, Rumi's eldest son, Hz. Sultan Veled, assumed leadership of the community. During this time, the Mevlevi Order was formally organized, and branches began to open outside Konya. The Çelebi institution was established in the Konya Mevlana Lodge, with Rumi's descendants governing the lodge as "postnishin" (the person sitting on the post, who is the sheikh of the lodge). The Mevlevi Order initially spread to cities like Afyon, Kütahya, Muğla, Istanbul, and Tokat, and eventually expanded across the Balkans and the Hijaz Peninsula, leading to the establishment of Mevlevihanes in various regions.