Pirevi, Museum of Haci Bektas-i Veli
Balim Sultan Tomb and the cemetry
Ucler Fountain, First (Nadar) Courtyard
Fountain with a lion, Second (Dergah) Courtyard
Second (Dergah) Courtyard
Kitchen, Refectory
Kirkbudak candelabrum
Calligraphy, Hall of the Kirklar, Pirevi
Cilehane-Deliklitas
Haci Bektas-i Veli Museum
Ucler (Threes) Gate and Tekke Mosque
Semah in the Second (Dergah) Courtyard |
Museum Of Haci Bektas-i Veli
The Haci Bektas-i Veli complex was opened to visitors as a museum on 16 August 1964 after restoration work undertaken by the General Directorate of Pious Foundations. The complex reflects architectural elements ranging from the 13th to the 19th century. The complex consist of three main sections, each built around a courtyard:the First or Nadar Courtyard, the Second or Dergah Courtyard, and the Third or Hazret Courtyard. >>
THE FIRST COURTYARD, which used to be called the Nadar Courtyard, is entered through the monumental Catal (Fork) Gate on the southern side. Immediately to the right of the entrance is the Ucler fountain, decorated with a seal-of-Solomon motif that was donated by Fatma Nuriye, the wife of Grand Vizier Halil Pasha in 1902, when the convent was headed by Feyzullah Dedebaba. Originally this courtyard contained a number of service-structures such as a stable, a bakery, a bath, a latrine, a guesthouse, and a laundry, none of which have survived. >>
THE SECOND COURTYARD, which used to be called the Dergah Courtyard, is entered through the Ucler (Threes) Gate with its triangular pediment and pointed arch. Unlike its predecessor, most of this courtyard's structures have survived. Starting from the right, there are a fountain, the quarters of the head of the refectory, a refectory, and the convent's mosque; in the center is a pool and on the left, a guest-house, a meeting-hall, a larder, and the quarters of the convent's leader. >>
Arslanli Cesme >>
The statue of a lion on this fountain (the name means "Fountain with a Lion") is carved in Alexandrine marble in the style of Classical Egyptian art. It was donated to the convent in 1875 by Fatma Hanim, a descendent of the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Kavalali Mehmet Ali Pasha. The fountain in which the statue was set to 1554 and was donated in the name of Malkoc Bali Bey, a governor of Silistre.> >
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Asevi Baba Kosku , >>
"Asevi" means "refectory" and in the convent's protocol, the head (baba) of the refectory ranked second in importance only to the dedebaba, the head of the convent. Today the structure serves as the museum's administrative office. >>
Refectory >>
According to an inscription, this refectory was erected in 1560 and is another donation in the name of Malkoc Bali Bey. On display are the famous huge black cauldron, smaller cauldrons, and other kitchen utensils.> >
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Tekke Cami >>
This mosque was built in 1834 by Sultan Mahmud II. Despite its late date, the mosque is in a very conservative style. From the inside one can see that it is roofed with a dome; but outside, the dome is concealed by a low conical cap sheathed with lead. The rather stubby minaret is not original; it is the result of restoration work.> >
Pool >>
This pool, located directly opposite to the entrance, has an inscription indicating that it was built in 19o6-1908 by Nazli Hatun, the wife of H. Mat Pasha, the governor of Beirut. The southern facade has a triangular pediment surmounted by a twelve-lobed Huseyni crown. An ancient column capital in the Corinthian order was used to support the fountain's jets.> >
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Mihmanevi >>
This guesthouse ("mihman" means "guest") was where visitors were put up when the convent was active. Today it is used as the museum's depot. >>
Meydanevi >>
The convent's meetinghouse or auditorium was one of its most important units, for it is where all the important ceremonies such as admission, promotion, etc were held. According to the inscription, it was originally constructed in 1367 by Sultan Murad I but it has undergone much rebuilding and restoration since. The construction technique employed in the ceiling of the main hall is particularly interesting. On display here are hides symbolizing the twelve stages of the order, calligraphic plates, the Bektashi throne, musical instruments, paintings, old black-and-white photographs, seals, and a variety of objects of an ethnographic nature. >>
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Kilerevi >>
This two-storied building had a dual function. The ground floor was the convent's larder and was where food and other supplies were stored. The upper story served as the residence of the convent's leader. Today, the building is used as a depot for the library. >>
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THE THIRD COURTYARD also used to be called the Hazret Courtyard. It is entered through the green-paneled Altilar (Sixes) Gate, which is surmounted by a low arch. One corner of the courtyard is laid out as a small museum commemorating Ataturk's visit; other elements include Pirevi, the Tomb of Balim Sultan, and a cemetery.> >
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Ataturk Kosesi >>
This is a small museum located immediately to the right of the entrance. It commemorates Mustafa Kemal Pasha's visit to the convent on 22 December 1919 after the Sivas Congress. >>
Pirevi >>
Standing directly opposite to the entrance is Pirevi, the House of the Founder,being a complex of structures to which additions were made between the 13th and 16th centuries. On the left and right of the entrance are the graves of the babas (literally "fathers", sheiks) and dedes ("grandfathers", senior sheiks) who served at the convent. The elaborate marble portal, called Akkapi, leads into the central hall (Orta Medhal), which is decorated with painting. At the right is the Cilehane (the Cell of the Ordeal, also known as Kizilcahalvet or "Fiery Furnace"). This is the core of the convent for it is where novices underwent their ordeals before admission to the order. A rather modest-looking doorway leads into Kirklar Meydani, the Hall of the Forty, with its wooden ceiling and painted wall decorations. The famous Kirkbudak (Forty Branches) candelabrum may be of Indian origin and was probably a gift to the convent. Also on display are a chapter from the Quran in the handwriting of Caliph Ali, a silk carpet presented by the Shah of Iran, banners, sets of cups, the original silver door of the Haci Bektas-i Veli tomb, a few weapons, and various objects of an ethnographic nature that are associated with the culture and practices of the Bektashis. The graves of the Khorasan dervishes stand on the eastern side of this hall and those of the (Celebis (Mevlevi leaders) are located to the west. A modestly sized hut decorative marble door (known also as Gokesik, "Heavenly") leads into the Abode of the Founder, which is to say the Tomb of Haci Bektas-i Veli. The building is constructed in the Seljuk style of architecture and its domes and walls are decorated with paintings. The tall sarcophagus is draped in green cloths. From outside, the tomb appears to be roofed with a tall, conical cap sheathed in lead. The Tomb of Guvenc Abdal (abdal being a rank in the dervish order) contains the graves of Guvenc, his wife Dunya Guzeli, and their servants. The tomb is roofed with a vault whose decorations are not original. >>
Balim Sultan Turbesi >>
On the right side of the courtyard is another funeral structure in the Seljuk style of architecture, this one roofed with a pyramidal cap. A novice in the Bektashi convent in Dimetoka, Balim Sultan later joined this convent and performed a number of important services on behalf of the Bektashi order. For that reason, he is referred to among Bektashis as Pir-i Sani or the Second Founder. In addition to the grave of Balim Sultan, this tomb also contains the grave of Kalender Shah. The tomb itself was built in 1519, three years after Balim Sultan's death, by Sheiksuvar Ali Bey, the head of the Dulkadiroglu clan and one of Selim I's military commanders. The interior of the dome and the walls of the tomb are decorated with paintings. On display are a candelabrum, the original door, and a number of calligraphic plates. The venerable-looking black mulberry tree (Morus nigra) before the tomb is a "wishing tree": According to an old tradition, those who came to pray at the tomb bound a strip of cloth to a branch of this tree in the belief that their prayers would be granted. >>
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The cemetery immediately next to the Tomb of Balim Sultan is the resting-place of dervishes who served at the convent. The different styles of headgear surmounting the tombstones indicate the particular sect to which the occupant of the grave belonged and all are unique examples of Turkish-Islamic art.> >
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST >>
The Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography >>
This museum is located in the center of town about a hundred meters west of the Haci Bektas-i Veli Museum. On display are archaeological finds discovered during systematic excavations conducted at Sulucakarah6ybk in 1967-1976. The museum is rather important because all the finds are from the Sulucakara mound. It is open every day except Monday. >>
Kadincik Ana Evi >>
This was the house of Kadincik Ana, a woman mentioned in Velayetname and a personage of some importance among Bektashis. It is closed to the public but permission to visit it can be obtained from the directorate of the museum. >>
Bektas Efendi Turbesi >>
Bektas Efendi, the occupant of this tomb, died in 1603 but little is known about him. The tomb's dome and walls are decorated with paintings. The building is typical of the style of Seljuk-period tomb architecture.> >
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Cilehane-Deliklitas >>
This is a cave located on Mt Arafat three kilometers east of town, which, according to some, was used by Haci Bekta@-i Veli as an ordeal cell. A local popular belief holds a person who passes through the hole in the rock will be purged of his sins. Also on the hill are a sacred spring, the Hact Bektas-i Veli, Yunus Emre, and Ozanlar (Bards) monuments, and a theater seating 5,000 people. >>
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Bestaslar >>
This site is located near Civril village about five kilometers north of town. The five huge rocks (Bestaslar means "Five Rocks") are geologically unusual and there is a legend told about them that is related in detail in Velayetname. >>
Ataturk Evi >>
The Ataturk House is where Mustafa Kemal Pasha stayed during his visit here on 22-23 December 1919. Originally constructed in the 19th century, the building is to be opened to the public as a museum after it has been restored. >>
EXCURSION SPOTS >>
Dedebagi and Hanbagi are enticingly lovely recreational areas for picnics. Hacibektas county is a part of the province of Nevsehir, a tourism paradise in its own right. Located in the heart of ancient Cappadocia, Nevsehir is an open-air museum thanks to such not-to-be-missed sites as Uchisar, Avanos, Goreme, Urgup, Zelve, Derinkuyu, Gulsehir, and Kozakli. >>
Everywhere you look in Nevsehir and its counties you will find history, nature, and local culture intimately intermingled. Churches that were important in the history of Christianity, underground cities, and fantastic valleys and fairy chimneys that are wonders of nature will keep you entranced as you explore them. Hikes through the Cappadocia region will give you a chance to become familiar with it. Trips made hundreds of meters off the ground in colorful hot-air balloons over this magical region are an experience you will never forget. Beneath a cerulean sky, the white clouds seem close enough to touch. Below, you may observe fairy chimneys with pigeons fluttering around them, mysterious valleys linked to one another, and rock and cliffs worked into sinuous, and fantastic shapes by the elements. Cappadocia is an art gallery in which Mother Nature has displayed all her talents and holds visitors spellbound in her thrall. >>
just one of the many alluring elements of a trip to Nevsehir is the breathtaking array of local handicrafts whose venerable traditions are kept alive and whose products are to be found on display everywhere. Pottery-making is quite an advanced craft in Nevsehir and one comes across an amazing variety of forms such as vases, dishes, bowls, mugs, in which artists have immortalized the calm and fury of their souls with the skill of their hands. The ancient art of carpet weaving is vigorously alive with its traditional motifs, vibrant colors, and time-honored techniques. Nevehir is also an ancient center of viticulture and winemaking. Its local wines have a distinctive and unmistakable bouquet and flavor that seem to capture the spirit of the countryside. Naturally made, fermented, and aged by means of traditional methods, the wines produced from the grapes of Nevsehir's vineyards are popular with local and foreign tourists and are often served up in locally-made pottery carafes and cups. ... |