Scribes, Patrons and Readers

This chapter examines the people involved in the production and consumption of manuscripts—those of Mevlevi texts, as well as Mevlevi individuals who left inscriptions in other manuscripts. The first part of the chapter discusses craftspeople, most notably scribes, and what their inscriptions can tell us about this important subsection of the early Mevlevis. The second part looks at readers, especially patrons, owners and collators. This gives further insights into who the Mevlevi disciples were in this early period and for what purposes readers might have used manuscripts. The evidence analysed in this chapter shows that the early Mevlevis were a diverse group, with scribes and readers of various backgrounds, occupations and affiliations.