|
For four centuries, Topkai Sarayi was the home of the great
Ottoman Turkish Sultans and in now one of the world's greatest
museums and Harem. The palace was built in 1453. Despite thousands
of eathquakes, every sultan lived here until the 19th Century.
Harem Life
In the western world, the word harem has acquired seedy
connotations of prostitution, but the true Eastern definition
is far from this. The harem is defined as the women's quarter
in a Muslim household. The royal harem contains many households,
for the Queen Mother, the hasekis (Sultan's favourites),
his daughters, and for the concubines. Many of the women of
the Harem would never have even met the Sultan and became
the servants making the Harem function as a household.
Islam forbid enslaving Muslims so many of the girls imprisoned
here were Russian. It was a good life for the women who were
able to have a good education and grooming and were able to
climb the household ladder and even achieve the rank of Kadin,
equivalent to a rank of wife, of which the Sultan was allowed
four in this non-western convention. The women of the Harem
were reputed to have been the most beautiful women in the
Ottoman Empire and were often donated to the harem as gifts
by governors.
In the 3rd court, only the chosen could enter and the eunochs
would be. A visit by the Sultan would cease all activity in
the court.
The safekeeping room was a holy site. Once a year the imperial
family were allowed to pay homage because within these rooms
lie the cloaks of the Prophet Muhammed in a golden
cask and even a hair from his holy beard.
Visiting the Palace
The Topkai Sarayi harem is still a major attraction. The Imperial
Treasury still contains the crown jewels, golden thrones,
pearls, rubies, jade and giant emeralds and diamonds including
that worn by Mehmet IV for his accession, the 5th largest
diamond in the world.
Topkai Sarayi is open daily except for Tuesday $6, $3 for
students. $2.50 entry to Harem.
|
