TURKS REPAIRING SULTANS’ HAREM

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29004, 19 September 1959, Page 10

TURKS REPAIRING SULTANS’ HAREM

[By

MUAMMER KAY LAN,

Reuter Correspondent)

ISTANBUL One of the most extraordinary places in the world, the great harem of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire, is being repaired by the authorities of the Topkapi Palace Museum here. The museum, named also as the Old Seraglio, covers a very large area on the Sarayburnu coast here, overlooking both the Bosphorous Strait and the Sea of Marmara. The former Ottoman Empire was ruled from this palace for many centuries, and its famous harem became the home of thousands of beautiful women from many countries. It was also the centre of much intrigue., Today, workmen carrying mortar and other building materials, are walking those dimly-lit corridors and rooms with high windows which once no strange man was ever allowed to enter. If a strange man did succeed in penetrating the harem, the penalty was instant death—after his eyes had been put out. For the beautiful women who lived there belonged to the Sultan, and no other was permitted to set eyes on them. The harem of the Topkapi Palace, was the scene of many historic struggles, tragedies and murders. Sultans Ibrahim, Selim 111 and Mustafa IV were all killed there, and many princes and beautiful girls were strangled there as a result of palace intrigues, and women’s jealousy. Repair Work The repair work now being carried out at the harem is not easy, according to the experts, because of its delicate wood and marble work. The colourful tiles on the walls of the various rooms are also very precious and must be treated with great care. The Topkapi Palace was first built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, between 14721478. Its harem enlarged by succeeding sultans through the centuries and its architecture is therefore in many styles. Altogether, examples of five centuries of Turkish architecture, from the 15th to the 19 centuries, can be seen there.

The important places of the harem are the Golden Way, the Mother’s Courtyard, the Sultan Mother’s Apartment, the Sultan Mother’s Corridor the Mother’s Turkish bath, the Bedchamber of Hamid I, the Sultan’s Turkish bath, the apartments of the con-

cubines, the Hospital of the concubines, the school of Princes and the Apartment of the Eunuchs. The highest rank in the harem was that of Sultan Mother. After her, came the mother of the ruling sultan, the wives of the ruler and his favourite concubines. The Sultan, had his bedroom, lounge, resting rooms and library in the harem. From time to time he would give lavish presents to his various wives and favourites. Among the most important women who lived in this harem were Safiye Sultan, Kosem Sultan and Khurrem Sultan. Khurrem Sultan or Roxelana was the favourite wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, and one of the great intriguers of the Ottoman Palace. She even instigated the murder of Mustafa, Suleiman's son by another woman, in order to secure the succession to the throne of her own son Selim 11.