MUSEUM OF DIVAN LITERATURE

The Istanbul Mevlevihane Museum (Museum of Divan Literature) was established in 1973 in the Galata Mevlevihane.

One of the first mevlevi dergahs (Mevlevi dervish retreat) in Istanbul was the Galata Mevlevihane. Iskender Pasha built it in 1491. And the first sheik (head of a dergah or tekke) was Safayi Dede from Sinop. In 1765 the Mevlevihane was burned down and rebuilt. In 1791 the famous lyric poet Seyh Galip was appointed as sheik of the Mevlevihane. The last sheik was Ahmed Celaleddin Dede. After the Republic the Mevlevihane was closed down and abandoned until 1965. Repairs and restoration were completed and it was organised as the Museum of Divan Literature. The works of the school of Mevlana were collected. In the tombs and graves of the Galata Mevlevihane are buried famous scholars of the order of Mevlana such as Ismail Rusuhi Dede of Ankara, Sheik Galib, Esrar Dede, Halet Efendi, Fesih Dede, and Gavsi Dede. The entrance to the library is on the right of the entrance.