The Gravestones Found in Karaman Mader-i Mevlana (Aktekke) Mosque Burial Area

Abstract

Karaman Aktekke Mosque, which houses the tombs of Mr. Alaeddin, the brother of Mümine Hatun, Mawlana Jalal al-din Rumi's mother and some other chalabi, includes 82 gravestones in the burial area, 34 of which are epitaphic. The purpose of the article is to read and review this cultural heritage. 82 gravestones, some of which are broken or time-worn, were seen, read and photographed on site at different times. The oldest-dated gravestone in the burial area of Aktekke Mosque dates back to 777 hijri year (1374 AD.). Five of the gravestones are exact-dated, yet 6 of them do not have a date on them, at all. The epitaphs of 24 gravestones are inscribed with thuluth, 8 with ta'liq and one with riq'a and the back face with the Latin alphabet. Five of the gravestones in the burial area are in Arabic while 29 are in Turkish.