
Bewildered comments on social media and throughout international media portals this week were rife with regards to one particular event …
Spear-carrying guardsmen, fake mustaches and super-shiny armor played a key part in this ceremony in Turkey being dubbed a “circus”, with comments reflecting thoughts such as, “Wannabe sultan at his fancy dress party,” and, “He’s lost touch with reality”.
The extravagant palace reportedly cost $350 million and is now a controversial addition to the Ankara landscape.
You can read the full Guardian UK story here.
One incident of pomp and ceremony aside, the region does boast a rich and interesting history which we have explored in our series, Short History of the World: Ottomans versus Christians – click below for a preview.