Uryan Baba Dervish Lodge and Tomb in the District of Seyitgazi

Abstract

The purpose of this study is general evaluation of Uryan Baba Dervish Lodge and Tomb in the district of Seyitgazi in Eskisehir by taking its place, Uryan, thought and the rituals of Alevi, Bektasi faiths into consideration, and by comparing its architectural features with the similar buildings around the same region. The Zaviye of Uryan Baba, located at 7 km north-east of the district of Seyitgazi in the village of Yazidere (formerly 'Uryan Baba'), is consisted of a court house and the tomb of Uryan Baba adjacent to it. The other buildings of the complex do not exist today. The personality of Uryan Baba as well as the construction date of the dervish lodge is uncertain. It is highly probable that the person buried in the tomb is Ahmed Uryan Baba, caliph of Sultan Sucau'd-Din. Therefore, we concluded that pryan Baba, poor Kalenderi sheikh, was fairly important figure of his time as can be seen from his name and dervish lodge with tomb. It is understood that the tomb of the dervish lodge which exists today is similar to the form of the tomb of Seyitgazi, consisting the main building of the complex of Seyit Battal Gazi, and this interaction is seen at the other dervish lodge-tomb in the region.