istanbul - C2C

44
of the prominent painters of Europe depicted
the Harem as they imagined it. The secrecy and
forbidding entry to any strangers lasted until the
reign of Sultan Selim III, when for the first time
foreign visitors’ wives were allowed in. In line with
the piecemeal development of Ottoman palace
architecture, several rooms were added to the
Harem, where Harem officials performed their
duties and concubines provided their services.
Some of the chambers are named after the
sultan who commissioned them. For example,
the Chamber of Sultan Murat III was built by
Mimar Sinan on the sultan’s command. There are
about 300 rooms in the Harem. There are also
nine bathhouses, two mosques and a hospital.
Some of the rooms were assigned to the sultan’s
male children, concubines, Harem Agas, that
is, the eunuchs, and other servants. The most
beautiful rooms were devoted to the mothers of
the sultans, namely ‘Valide Sultan’ who was the
highest ranking person in the Harem. The tile
decorations of the chambers of the sultans were
also exquisite.
One of the most important sections of Topkapı
Palace is the Bab-üs Saade (Gate of Felicity)
that serves as the passage from the second
courtyard to the third courtyard,
and because of this it was the
most important gate of the
palace. During holy day
festivities the sultan
seated in front of
this gate and the
ceremonies and
processions
marking the
event took place
on the courtyard
in front of this
gate.