Seljuk Museum set to open in central Anatolian province

KAYSERİ hürriyet daily news

Kayseri’s monumental Gevher Nesibe Madrasah has been turned into a museum showcasing the Seljuk civilization. The Seljuk Museum, featuring the latest technology, is set to open in February

The Gevher Nesibe Madrasah has been turned into a museum housing historic artifacts from the Seljuk civilization as well as offering digital applications. DHA photo

Restoration works have been completed in the Gevher Nesibe Madrasah in the central Anatolian province of Kayseri. The madrasah has been turned into a museum housing historic artifacts from the Seljuk civilization as well as offering digital applications.

According to a written statement made by the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, works have almost been completed in the museum. The Gevher Nesibe Madrasah, which was built in 1206 by the Anatolian Seljuk sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev upon the will of his sister Gevher Nesibe Sultan will serve as the Seljuk Museum, which is the first one in Turkey.

The madrasah, which is known as the world’s first medical center, has been restored by the General Directorate of Foundations within the scope of a project made by Erciyes University Faculty of Architecture. But the fact that the floors of the patient rooms in the madrasah were covered with parquet and electricity wires were fished through the walls have caused criticisms and reactions.

Hayrünnisa Gül, the wife of President Abdullah Gül, made a statement then, saying, “We receive guests from abroad. For example the Dutch queen came and we took her to Kayseri. But I could not take her to the Gevher Nesibe, I feel embarrassed because of parquets on the floor. But the guest should see the natural fabric of this place. This time I saw that Kayseri became conscious and they started restoring the madrasah. They removed the parquets.”

Because of such criticisms, the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality restored the Gevher Nesibe Madrasah to its original once again. Now, the madrasah is set to open in February as a museum. Guests will have the feeling of walking on water in the museum thanks to a technology, according to officials.

Some parts of the museum will focus on the Seljuk civilization and other parts have been organized as a medical museum, which highlights the healing features of the madrasah.

The Seljuk civilization part will display elements on the Seljuk city, architecture, art, science, dress and also have sections providing information about the Seljuks in Anatolia.

The other part of the museum will have sections where visitors will be provided information about diseases, treatment methods and tools, scholars, medicines, treatment with music, treatment with color and etc.

Latest technology

Besides the Seljuk ethnographic artifacts that will be displayed in the museum, there will also be areas including interactive and technological visuals. In this way, visitors will get information by trying, applying, listening and using the technological tools.

The Seljuk Museum also has holographic 3D visuals and augmented reality applications, which are rare in the world museums. Thanks to this equipment, visitors will feel as if they walking on water or dressing like the Seljuk sultans.

The museum is considered as the cutting edge of digital museum management.

January/08/2014