Konya, located in Central Anatolia, Turkey, has preserved its name through the ages. According to legend, Perseus defeated a dragon that was terrorizing the city, and in his honor, the inhabitants erected a stone obelisk featuring an image of Perseus. This monument, known as Ikonyon, Ikonyum, or Iconium, is believed to have inspired the city’s name.
Archaeological findings in the area date back to around 7000 BC. Over time, the region was inhabited by numerous civilizations including the Chalcolithic, Bronze Age peoples, Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Romans, and Byzantines.
Konya holds great importance for Christians as St. Paul and St. Barnabas visited the city during their missionary journeys in Asia Minor. However, their preaching enraged both the Jewish and Gentile populations, compelling them to leave and continue onward to Derbe and Lystra.
Konya was the capital of the Seljuk Empire between 1071 and 1308. In 1220, Alaeddin Keykubad I restored the city walls, which successfully resisted invasions by the Mongols, Ilhans, and other forces. Later, in 1466, Konya was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.
Among Konya’s top tourist destinations is the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the founder of the Whirling Dervishes and a renowned Sufi poet. Other important landmarks include the Karatay Medrese, originally a mosque and now a museum dedicated to educating visitors about traditional tile work; the Alaaddin Keykubat Mosque dating back to the 12th century; and the Ince Minare Mosque, also known as the Thin Minaret Mosque.
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