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The word “harem” is Arabic. The Turks use the word “darüssade” (house of felicity). Polygamy was firs known amongst the Asstrians, later Moslems adopted it, and could marry four wives at the same time. Before Islam, the Turkish people were monogamous. In... Continue Reading

As already mentioned at the beginning of the blog, Topkapi Palace was surrounded by 2km long Byzantine walls on the seaward side and 1400m long Turkish walls on the landwards side. Next, I want to present to you some bygone neighbouring environs of Topkapi Palace Museum. These... Continue Reading

Opposite the Bagdat Köşk is a small house, in which, according to Islamic rules, the princes were circumcised during early childhood. It was built by Sultan Ibrahim in the 17th century. It is inner and outer walls are ornamented with marvellous Iznik tiles. The blue tiles of the... Continue Reading

Revan Köşk From the Sofa Köşk, we climb up a stairway and on to a path which leads to a terrace with fountain. The firs building at the top of the stairs is the so-called “Revan Köşk”, which Sultan Murat IV had built in the 17th century for the commemoration of his... Continue Reading

Two path and and a stairway lead to the Fourth Court, where mainly the private apartments of the sultans were situated. Sofa Mosque Continuing through the stairway, on the right, can be seen the small “Sofa Mosque” which was erected in 1809 during the reign of Sultan... Continue Reading

The building in which the sacred relics are kept, in considered to be the most beautiful structure of the palace complex, with its interior decoration. The high quality tiles of the inner and the outer room walls date from the 15th and 18th centuries. Sultan Selim I (his Turkish... Continue Reading

The clock collection is near the hall of sacred relics in the previous weaponry treasury. The clocks in Topkapi Palace were not exhibition objects, originally, but were for the daily use of the sultans. Some of them were manufactured in the Ottoman court through foreign rulers... Continue Reading

Today, in the previous sleeping quarters of the treasury guards (Hazina Aghas) are, one the ground floor, very interesting calligraphy and miniature painting collections, and in the upper gallery, portraits of the sultans. Calligraphy and Miniature Painting Collections While... Continue Reading

After the conquest of Istanbul by the Turks in 1453, the sultan’s treasure was preserved in the Yedikule fortress for a few years. In 1478 it was transferred to Topkapi Palace and kept in the building presently being used to hold the arms collection. The original summer... Continue Reading

This building, one of the oldest of the palace and probably its largest mosque, dates from the 15th century. After the proclamation of the republic, the mosque was converted into a library in 1928, where all the scattered books of the palace were then gathered together. Today the... Continue Reading