Le mot Harem, qui dérive de l'arabe haram (illégale), désignera progressivement ce qui est "protégé" ou réservé. On l'attribuera à la résidence du sultan où vivaient sa mère, ses soeurs, ses épouses et ses concubines. Le harem comptera, en moyenne, six cents femmes (avec un record aux alentours de mille cinq cents) d'origines diverses.
Description
The main entrance (Cümle Kapisi) separates the harem in which the family and the concubines of the sultan resided from the Courtyard of the Eunuchs. The door leads out into the sentry post (Nöbet Yeri) to which the three main sections of the harem are connected. The door on the left of the sentry post leads through the Passage of the Concubines to the Court of the Concubines (Kadınefendiler Taşlığı). The door in the middle leads to the Court of the Queen Mother (Valide Taşlığı) and the door to the right leads through the Golden Road (Altınyol) to the sultan's quarters. The large mirrors in this hall date from the 18th century.
