We asked the handsome young aide-de-camp, who had been assigned by His Imperial Majesty to show us around the palaces, how a ballroom was used in a country where gentlemen were not allowed to meet ladies. He explained that in the harems, the ladies often danced among themselves for the entertainment of their husbands, but the husbands never danced with them. Despite this, a ballroom was still considered a necessary part of a palace, and the one we were shown had been used on several occasions many years ago.
Sultan Abdul Aziz’s Picture Gallery
The young colonel also took us through the picture gallery, where there was a collection of paintings created by the late Sultan Abdul Aziz. It was clear that the Sultan did not have much knowledge about art. His taste seemed to favor paintings of nude women, horses, and battle scenes in which Turkish soldiers were trampling their enemies. There were also several portraits of Sultans, despite the common belief that the Mohammedan religion forbids the reproduction of human faces and figures The Sultan’s Palaces.
The Misunderstanding About the Seraglio
Many people, who have read romantic and artistic descriptions of Constantinople, often written by poets and sentimental artists like D’Amicis, might think that the Seraglio is a mysterious and secretive palace connected to the harem and private life of the Sultan. I had the same impression before coming to Constantinople. However, when I arrived, I found out that it is not as people imagine.
In fact, the word seraglio simply means a portico or vestibule surrounding any building, whether it is a palace, kiosk, or mosque. The term is commonly used to refer to a group of buildings used for different purposes. These buildings could include the residence of a pasha, his harem, his offices, stables, and the mosque that is attached to many large buildings in Turkey. Therefore, the Seraglio is not just the harem or the private space of the Sultan, but a collection of buildings that serve various functions Kukeri Carnival.
In conclusion, the Sultan’s palaces and their ballrooms are not as mysterious as people think. While they are places of grandeur and tradition, the Seraglio is simply a term that refers to a collection of buildings with various purposes, rather than a secretive palace for private affairs. The picture gallery of Sultan Abdul Aziz, though not sophisticated in terms of art, provides a glimpse into the Sultan’s preferences. This understanding of the Seraglio helps clear up the misunderstandings that many visitors might have when they first hear about it.
