Mapping the Tekkes and Türbes in Western Thrace: A New Contribution to the Old Literature Cover Image

Mapping the Tekkes and Türbes in Western Thrace: A New Contribution to the Old Literature
Mapping the Tekkes and Türbes in Western Thrace: A New Contribution to the Old Literature

Author(s): Ioannis Mylonelis, Angeliki Ziaka, Christos Tsironis, Erifili Siskou, Karakitsos Efstratios
Subject(s): Theology and Religion, Islam studies, History of Islam
Published by: Balkan Studies Foundation
Keywords: Balkans; Western Thrace; Sufism; tekkes; türbes

Summary/Abstract: Sufis, particularly the Alevi and Bektashi communities, tend to be overlooked within in Western Thrace, where Muslim identity is dominated by Orthodox Islam (i.e., Sunnism) for both cultural and political reasons. Consequently, the sacred places of groups that are perceived to be heterodox are, similar to these groups themselves, rendered invisible and many times deliberately left to obscurity. The present study combines bibliography and fieldwork to locate and derive information about Sufi tekke s [lodges], türbes [Muslim shrines], and cemevi s [gathering places] in Western Thrace to broaden the future scope of research on the material culture and beliefs of those marginalized communities.

  • Issue Year: 4/2024
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 7-34
  • Page Count: 28
  • Language: English
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