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TRH visit Konya in Turkey

26th November 2007

The Prince of Wales today called for a "rebalance" of the "East and West" in ourselves as he visited the shrine of one of Islam's greatest poets and mystic philosophers.

In a wide-ranging speech that also touched on the environment, The Prince spoke of the need for societies to look hard at the values of our times and examine how they allowed people to live "sustainable lives".

His Royal Highness is visiting Turkey with The Duchess of Cornwall on an overseas tour on behalf of the British Government.

The Prince, who has a long-standing interest in Muslim art and culture, made the address after watching the iconic ritual dance of the Whirling Dervishes and touring the ancient shrine of Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi in the southern town of Konya.

Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi, a 13th Century poet, advocated the use of music poetry and dancing as a path for reaching God and it was from these ideas that the practice of the Whirling Dervishes developed into the ritual form known as Sema.

They took off long dark cloaks, which symbolised the casting off of falsehoods, to reveal wide flowing skirts and one by one they began to spin slowly then faster and faster.

Their Royal Highnesses watched as the Dervishes spun around with their right hand up in the air to receive blessings and the other facing the ground to communicate them to earth.

The religious rite is an elaboration of the whirling done by the Rumi in the streets of Konya.

After the ceremony, The Prince said: "What better place then here near the resting place of Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi to rededicate ourselves to the purpose of re-acquiring an understanding heart and a rebalance of the East and West in ourselves."

"At this crucial time in history we need to look very closely at the values (that) our modern world now exposes and consider the extent to which they enable us to live a more integrated and sustainable lives."

The Prince went on to praise Turkey's efforts helping the international community: "If I may also say so it's been most heartening to see how more and more Turkey is taking her place on the world stage working closely with the international community to support the most vital global priorities, including the Middle East peace process."

His Royal Highness also highlighted the country's "distinguished leadership" of the International Security Assistance Force fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Prince, who enjoys the poet's writings, said in his speech: "I must confess I'm rather fascinated by the fact that there are so many people in the West who are drawn to his work.

"I cannot help but ask myself what it is they find in poetic inspiration which is somehow absent in their lives.

"Is it perhaps the depth of yearning of the heart which we all feel and which he understands and describes so well."

Earlier in the day, The Prince and The Duchess marked the 800th anniversary of Rumi's birth by visiting his shrine.

Their Royal Highnesses were given a guided tour of the mainly 16th century building that holds the scholar's remains.

As a mark of respect everyone entering the ancient building, including Their Royal Highnesses wore slip-on blue plastic bags over their shoes.

Andrew Peacock, assistant director at the British Institute in Ankara described points of interest during their tour.

They stopped to view the poet's sarcophagus which was covered in a gold embroidered velvet shroud and topped by a large turban, a symbol of spiritual authority.

They also spent time looking at 13th century artefacts associated with Rumi and his followers, including a beautifully decorated copy of the poet's most famous work, the Mathnawi.

As Their Royal Highnesses posed for pictures outside the shrine, The Prince joked with the press saying: "We'll have a dome coming out of the top of our heads".

Asked what he thought of the shrine he added: "Fascinating, fascinating, there's never enough time."

In the late afternoon The Prince, who studied archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge University, visited Catalhoyuk, one of the oldest town settlements ever found.

He walked round the dig which had excavated around 13 levels of mud brick buildings inside a large 9,000-year-old mound outside the town of Konya.

The archaeologists have dug down around 30ft to reveal the dwellings of a Neolithic community and the individual brick courses in the some of the walls.

Excavation director Ian Hodder, who showed The Prince around the site, said: "He seemed very interested in what we were doing, especially the children's programme which is part of a larger programme to educate the people in the area about the value of the cultural heritage we have here. He saw the long term value in that."

Click here to read The Prince's speech.