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Being a peninsula bounded by bodies of water to north, east and south (the Golden Horn, Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, respectively) and by the old city walls to west, this part of the city is essentially what used to be called Constantinople, as the rest of what is today Istanbul was part of independent cities, towns, villages, fields or even complete wilderness later absorbed by the city. This process is still going on as Istanbul grows with increasing speed..
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Istanbul, or Byzantium as it was called then, was first settled by Greek colonists from Megara in Greek mainland in 667 BC. They founded their city at Seraglio Point (Sarayburnu) which is now occupied by Topkapı Palace. However, recent discoveries in a metro construction site in Yenikapı (on the southern coast of the peninsula) dates the very first date of Istanbul's settlement back to about 8000 years ago, which makes the city one of the oldest still-inhabited spots of the world. This peninsula was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Sultanahmet, walking distance to the all historical sights of istanbul named old city.
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....
Details best viewed in Original Size.
According to Wikipedia, the Topkapi Palace (or Topkapı Sarayı) was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a major tourist attraction and contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Mohammed's cloak and sword. The Topkapı Palace is among the monuments contained within the "Historic Areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described under UNESCO's criterion iv as "the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces [...] of the Ottoman period.". The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At its peak, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people and covered a large area with a long shoreline. It contained mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint. Construction began in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople and was originally called the New Palace to distinguish it from the previous residence. It received the name "Topkapı" (Cannon Gate) in the 19th century, after a (now lost) gate and shore pavilion. The complex was expanded over the centuries, with major renovations after the 1509 earthquake and the 1665 fire. Following the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, Topkapı Palace was transformed by a government decree dated April 3, 1924, into a museum of the imperial era. The Topkapı Palace Museum is administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The palace complex has hundreds of rooms and chambers, but only the most important are accessible to the public today. The complex is guarded by officials of the ministry as well as armed guards of the Turkish military. The palace includes many fine examples of Ottoman architecture. It contains large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry.
The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı[1] or in Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى) is a large palace in Istanbul, Turkey, that was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign.[2].
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As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a major tourist attraction and contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed's (peace be upon him) cloak and sword.[2] The Topkapı Palace is among the monuments contained within the "Historic Areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described under UNESCO's criterion iv as "the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces [...] of the Ottoman period."[3].
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The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At its peak, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people,[2] and covered a large area with a long shoreline. It contained mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint.[2] Construction began in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople. It was originally called the New Palace (Yeni Sarayı) to distinguish it from the previous residence. It received the name "Topkapı" (Cannon Gate[4]) in the 19th century, after a (now lost) gate and shore pavilion. The complex was expanded over the centuries, with major renovations after the 1509 earthquake and the 1665 fire..
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After the 17th century me and the Topkapı Palace gradually lost its importance as the sultans preferred to spend more time in their new palaces along the Bosphorus. In 1856, Sultan Abdül Mecid I decided to move the court to the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace, the first European-style palace in the city. Some functions, such as the imperial treasury, the library, and the mint, were retained in the Topkapı Palace..
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Following the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, Topkapı Palace was transformed by a government decree dated April 3, '24
The Topkapi Palace, built in 1459-1465 by Sultan Mehmet II on the old Byzantine acropolis, was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans during 1465-1856. See McDonagh, Turkey, Blue Guide, 3rd ed., 72; and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkap%C4%B1_Palace.