The Konya Time Museum is Türkiye’s first time museum, which stops the flow of time and takes visitors on a journey into the past. The museum is located on a hill in the southwest of the Sille neighborhood in the Selçuklu district of Konya.
Surrounding the museum are the graves of Muslim and Christian citizens who lived in Sille during ancient times. This cemetery, as a shared space of Muslim and Christian faith, beautifully exemplifies the longed-for peace and respect.
The building of the museum was constructed in the 19th century and was referred to by the people of Sille as the “Small Church.” The church has no inscription.
It is also known as the “Milk Church” because it is a place where mothers who could not breastfeed would come to pray, hoping to find a remedy for their situation.
The chapel features a rectangular plan with rubble stone walls and wooden beams, covered by a barrel vault with a single apse. The naos and apse are illuminated by a window on the southern side. Restored by the Selçuklu Municipality in 2014, the church was opened to visitors as the Time Museum.
The museum displays a sundial from the Roman period, Ottoman-era manuscripts, seven-year pocket calendars, desk calendars, calendars used in official institutions, and artifacts from the Republican era.
The museum offers a unique experience of the history of time and serves as a bridge between the past and the present for its visitors.
Cover Photo: Oğuz Büyükyıldırım
