The Mevlevi Shrine Museum is a former 17th-century tekke (Muslim shrine) of the mystic Islamic sect known as the Mevlevi order or, more famously, the whirling dervishes. Their spiritual philosophy, which started in the Turkish town of Konya, is based on the mystical branch of Islam called Sufism. This fascinating museum also houses a room with the coffins of the 16 Mevlevi sheiks.
The most captivating part of the museum is the former kitchen of the tekke, the centre of the hierarchical order in which the dervishes lived and moved from ‘interns’ to achieving dervish status. Each new intern would have to prove himself worthy by taking on the role of a kitchen servant for several years; at meal times, he would silently stand in the corner, watching out for subtle signals indicating the dervishes’ needs. Lifting a piece of bread indicated that the dervish was thirsty and more water was needed.
Outside in the courtyard is a collection of Muslim tombstones.
