KONYA

Large city in central Turkey and capital of Konya province.

Konya is located in a large fertile plain in Anatolia. A town has existed on its site since at least 1200 b.c.e. When the area was part of the Roman Empire, the town was known as Iconium. Konya was the capital of the Seljuk Turks' kingdom in Anatolia between 1081 and 1334 and contains several historical monuments dating from that period, most notably the monastery and tomb of Celaleddin Rumi (d. 1273), a leading founder of Sufism and Sufi Orders. Modern Konya is a major industrial center and one of Turkey's largest cities, with a population of approximately 1.3 million. Konya province ranks as the country's major grain-producing region. The total population of the province (including the city of Konya) was 2,192,166, according to the census of 2000.

see also sufism and the sufi orders.

eric hooglund

Konya City in s central Turkey. Known in ancient times as Iconium, it was first settled in the 8th century bc. The capital of the Seljuk sultanate of Rum from 1099, it was annexed by the Ottoman sultan in 1472. It is the religious centre of the whirling dervishes. Manufactures include cotton and leather goods, and carpets. Pop. (1997) 611,329. See also Dervish

Konya an ancient Phrygian settlement, which became the capital of the Seljuk sultans towards the end of the 11th century.