bernard_s
01 Topkapi Palace Harem - Entrance
The Harem
The Harem is located on the second courtyard of Topkapi Palace Museum. Upon entry, the second path from the left leads to Harem Buildings Complex.
The word "Harem" literally comes from the Arabic word "Haram" which means "Forbidden". It was Sultan's own residence and no one else was allowed to go in. The Sultan had four official wives and many other women called "Favourites" or "Concubines". The "Favourites" were younger , newly accepted women to the Harem and they were chosen by the Queen Mother(Sultan's mother). They were charged with doing the housework and serving to the older women and the Queen Mother. The older women were called as "Concubines". The Queen Mother could choose a favourite as a candidate of being an official wife if she is beautiful, nice, quiet and healthy to produce healthy children. Any favourite coming from another country was converted to Islam and embraced Islamic principles. The famous Roxelana, the beloved wife of Suleiman "the Magnificient" originally came from Ukraine as a favourite and by stealing the heart of Suleiman, she became a Queen Mother. She took a Turkish name as "Hurrem"(cheerful) and had a big influence over Sultan Suleiman. The Harem is full of such stories...
The Harem is comprised of labryinth of passages, courtyards, gardens, staircases and more than 300 rooms which are surprisingly small. It included not only the chambers for the women, but also quarters for the Black Eunuchs who were in charge of guarding the women. The Eunuchs were chosen among the African Black people because if in case a woman has an affair with any of them, the baby becomes black and people understand the situation...
As you enter to Harem, first courtyard is the "Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs". This courtyard is covered with splendid blue, white and green ceramic tiles which date back to 1668. At the far end of this courtyard is called "Cumle Kapi" the Main Gate to Harem proper. To the left is a long and narrow corridor stretches to the open "Courtyard of the Cariyeler(concubines)". Just beyond the Cumle Kapi, a gateway opens to a wide corridor which extend into Harem proper, this is called as "Golden Road". At the beginning of the corridor, an opening on the left leads to the large open "Courtyard of Queen Mother(Valide Sultan). She reigned over the Harem and her son, Sultan. To the right from this courtyard leads to the "Baths of the Harem" with a Turkish-style toilet.
Another great room to be seen during the visit to Harem is "Hunkar Sofasi", the Hall of the Sultan. It is the largest and grandest room in the palace. There's a throne which the Sultan sat and a balcony for the musicians. The little room on the right was for the musical instruments. The Sultan had entertainment here with all the women. Most of the women in the Harem knew to play at least one musical instrument, mostly a Turkish instrument called "Ud".
One of the most delightful rooms in the Harem is the "Library of Ahmet III" which was constructed in 1705-1706. Its walls are panels od lacquered wood decorated with paintings of coloured flowers and fruits.
Tne princes also had their rooms in the Harem. There were foreign teachers, especially in 1740s, French, teaching languages and all necessary things for a prince. The four official wives' apartments were the largest ones and were close to the Princes' Apartments.
The tour to the Harem ends with a big courtyard which overlooks a vast swiming pool. This swimming pool was for the women to swim on warm and sunny days. There are stairs above the courtyard for the women to go near the pool. The women were not allowed to go outside the Harem and needed to have fresh air. The chambers above this courtyard was reserved for some favourites and four official wives. One cannot believe that the courtyard and swimming pool were full of pretty and charming ladies having fun and getting more pretty for their beloved Sultan....
01 Topkapi Palace Harem - Entrance
The Harem
The Harem is located on the second courtyard of Topkapi Palace Museum. Upon entry, the second path from the left leads to Harem Buildings Complex.
The word "Harem" literally comes from the Arabic word "Haram" which means "Forbidden". It was Sultan's own residence and no one else was allowed to go in. The Sultan had four official wives and many other women called "Favourites" or "Concubines". The "Favourites" were younger , newly accepted women to the Harem and they were chosen by the Queen Mother(Sultan's mother). They were charged with doing the housework and serving to the older women and the Queen Mother. The older women were called as "Concubines". The Queen Mother could choose a favourite as a candidate of being an official wife if she is beautiful, nice, quiet and healthy to produce healthy children. Any favourite coming from another country was converted to Islam and embraced Islamic principles. The famous Roxelana, the beloved wife of Suleiman "the Magnificient" originally came from Ukraine as a favourite and by stealing the heart of Suleiman, she became a Queen Mother. She took a Turkish name as "Hurrem"(cheerful) and had a big influence over Sultan Suleiman. The Harem is full of such stories...
The Harem is comprised of labryinth of passages, courtyards, gardens, staircases and more than 300 rooms which are surprisingly small. It included not only the chambers for the women, but also quarters for the Black Eunuchs who were in charge of guarding the women. The Eunuchs were chosen among the African Black people because if in case a woman has an affair with any of them, the baby becomes black and people understand the situation...
As you enter to Harem, first courtyard is the "Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs". This courtyard is covered with splendid blue, white and green ceramic tiles which date back to 1668. At the far end of this courtyard is called "Cumle Kapi" the Main Gate to Harem proper. To the left is a long and narrow corridor stretches to the open "Courtyard of the Cariyeler(concubines)". Just beyond the Cumle Kapi, a gateway opens to a wide corridor which extend into Harem proper, this is called as "Golden Road". At the beginning of the corridor, an opening on the left leads to the large open "Courtyard of Queen Mother(Valide Sultan). She reigned over the Harem and her son, Sultan. To the right from this courtyard leads to the "Baths of the Harem" with a Turkish-style toilet.
Another great room to be seen during the visit to Harem is "Hunkar Sofasi", the Hall of the Sultan. It is the largest and grandest room in the palace. There's a throne which the Sultan sat and a balcony for the musicians. The little room on the right was for the musical instruments. The Sultan had entertainment here with all the women. Most of the women in the Harem knew to play at least one musical instrument, mostly a Turkish instrument called "Ud".
One of the most delightful rooms in the Harem is the "Library of Ahmet III" which was constructed in 1705-1706. Its walls are panels od lacquered wood decorated with paintings of coloured flowers and fruits.
Tne princes also had their rooms in the Harem. There were foreign teachers, especially in 1740s, French, teaching languages and all necessary things for a prince. The four official wives' apartments were the largest ones and were close to the Princes' Apartments.
The tour to the Harem ends with a big courtyard which overlooks a vast swiming pool. This swimming pool was for the women to swim on warm and sunny days. There are stairs above the courtyard for the women to go near the pool. The women were not allowed to go outside the Harem and needed to have fresh air. The chambers above this courtyard was reserved for some favourites and four official wives. One cannot believe that the courtyard and swimming pool were full of pretty and charming ladies having fun and getting more pretty for their beloved Sultan....