Mevlevi Tekke

Mevlevi Tekke is the museum of the Whirling Dervishes. This rectangular building with six gold domes is found inside the walls of Nicosia near the Kyrenia Gate.

The Mevlevi order of Islam was founded by the poet Mevlana Celaleddin. His roots date back to a land that is known as Afganistan today where he was born in 1207. His poetry reflected a mystic philosophy which is the basis of this form of Islam.

The Dervishes used music and dance to express their divinity which was scandalous to the Orthodox Muslims. On the island, the Melvihane in Nicosia was the center of this community’s existence.

This sect was ordered closed in 1925 and its members moved to Syria. But over the years the relics of the building could not be ignored. Beneath the gold domes six tombs of sheiks lie and inside the building remained costumes, calligraphy, tombstones and edicts of its time. In 2002, after extensive renovations the building opened once again with whirling dervishes.

The museum is a display of their lifestyle as well as their history.

A Whirling Dervish dance involves spinning around and around.... and around!
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Many thanks to Sauvignon for the picture, visit their Flckr page here >

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