Iconium

Iconium (īkō`nēəm), ancient city of Asia Minor, the modern Konya, Turkey. In ancient days it was at various times in Phrygia, Lycaonia, Cappadocia, and the Roman province of Galatia. It was visited by Paul, who converted part of the Greek and Jewish population and established an important church there. In the 3d cent. A.D., Iconium became an active Christian colony.

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Konya

 ancient Iconium

City (pop., 1997: 623,333), central Turkey. First settled in the 3rd millennium BC, it is one of the oldest urban centres in the world. Influenced by Greek culture from the 3rd century BC, Iconium came under Roman rule by 25 BC. It was taken by the Seljuq dynasty c. 1072. Renamed Konya, it was a major cultural centre in the 13th century and was home to the Sufi brotherhood known as “whirling dervishes.” Later ruled by the Mongols, it was annexed to the Ottoman Empire c. 1467. It declined during Ottoman rule but revived after the Istanbul-Baghdad railway opened in 1896. An important industrial centre, it is also a trade centre for the agricultural area surrounding it.