Ruža u kamenu – vizualna kultura i tradicija žena derviša u Sarajevu
Rose in stone – visual culture and tradition of female dervishes in Sarajevo

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses the tradition of female dervishes in Sarajevo, which we can trace from the 16th century, while echoes of this tradition are still present today. The article presents some of the most famous female dervishes (dervishhane) recorded in the history of Sarajevo. We researched women’s turbes and tombstones in Sarajevo and the surrounding area, and listed local traditions and legends associated with the women buried in these graves. We have shown that the shape of a rosette, rose, jul or gül is the most significant motif of the visual culture of female dervishes, and we have presented different symbolic interpretations of this motif in Sufi spirituality. The motif is most often found on stone tombstones (nišans), and is also present in other materials. By connecting the tradition of female dervishes with the motifs of their visual culture, we wanted to gain a broader insight into the role and significance of this neglected tradition.

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