* Turkey *
(Topkapi Palace, Topkapı Sarayı, طوپقپو سرايى)
^[ Babus-salam, Bâb-üs Selâm, Orta Kapı (Middle Gate) ]^
We visited Topkapi Palace on our third day at Turkey. On that day, we toured around Istanbul to visit the hippodrome, Sultanahmet mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Topkapi Palace was the second place we visited on that particularly tiring day. Hm~
The palace has four courtyards. It is one of Turkey's open-air museum and "Historic Areas". Also, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
First off, we will enter the compund of the palace through the Imperial Gate:
^[ Bâb-ı Hümâyûn, Porta Augusta, Saltanat Kapısı (Gate of Sultan) ]^
The Imperial Gate leads to the First Courtyard:
^[ the garden at the First Courtyard; I. Avlu, Alay Meydanı ]^
The church of Hagia Eirene, located in the First courtyard, was used as a storehouse and imperial armoury.
At the end of the first courtyard, you will find the Gate of Salutation; which leads to the second courtyard:
^[ my shot. ]^
^[ The palace kitchen was closed...not for cooking, definitely. LOL ]^
Imperial Council, Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn :
The Imperial Council was where all the ministers held meetings to discuss matters of the empire. There is a window on top of the chamber, on the wall, called 'The Golden Window'. Here is where the sultan will sit and watch the meetings, without being noticed by the viziers. Clever, huh?
The window can be reached through the Tower of Justice:
The Gate of Felicity leads to the inner court, or the third courtyard:
The third courtyard is the heart of the palace:
^[ The audience chamber, Arz Odası ]^
So, after the viziers ended their meeting, they will be summoned to the audience chamber to give reports to the sultan. "The chamber was thus a place that officials reporting to the sultan entered without knowing if they would leave it again alive." - wikipedia.org
We did not enter the harem. More reasons to come again.
Off to the fourth courtyard~
^[ Fourth courtyard, IV. Avlu, also known as the Imperial Sofa, Sofa-ı Hümâyûn ]^
Okay, this place is like the innermost sanctuary of the sultan. There is an Iftar Pavilion and a 'Moonlit Seat'; where the sultan would break his fast. This courtyard has the most beautiful view of the Golden Horn.
Also, there is a curcumcision room. (I know~ why, right?) It is dedicated to the circumcision of young princes.
***
We could not take pictures in the Imperial Treasury. It was amazingly amazing and wonderfully wondrous! There were a LOT of emeralds, rubies, jades, crystals, diamonds...the whole lot, you know. What really amazed me was even the flasks were studded with emeralds and rubies! Fuh.
***
There was an exhibition of Ahli-Beyt while we were there:
***
There were a collection of royal garments, too! "Mengada-ngada," Ajut said.
***
All in all, you can say that I had a tremendously grand time while touring Topkapi Palace!! It makes you feel proud that we once conquered the world and the world was once ours. The fact that the world is so different now makes you feel sad, though. When you have seen the grandeur and the splendour of this place, you will know that no other empire can ever beat the Ottoman empire in any aspect. Although its wealth, its strength and its pride are all history now...but, history can be repeated, right?
Allahu akbar!
***
This post took me two hours to finish. Wow.
(Topkapi Palace, Topkapı Sarayı, طوپقپو سرايى)
^[ Babus-salam, Bâb-üs Selâm, Orta Kapı (Middle Gate) ]^
We visited Topkapi Palace on our third day at Turkey. On that day, we toured around Istanbul to visit the hippodrome, Sultanahmet mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Topkapi Palace was the second place we visited on that particularly tiring day. Hm~
The palace has four courtyards. It is one of Turkey's open-air museum and "Historic Areas". Also, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
First off, we will enter the compund of the palace through the Imperial Gate:
^[ Bâb-ı Hümâyûn, Porta Augusta, Saltanat Kapısı (Gate of Sultan) ]^
The Imperial Gate leads to the First Courtyard:
^[ the garden at the First Courtyard; I. Avlu, Alay Meydanı ]^
The church of Hagia Eirene, located in the First courtyard, was used as a storehouse and imperial armoury.
At the end of the first courtyard, you will find the Gate of Salutation; which leads to the second courtyard:
^[ my shot. ]^
^[ The palace kitchen was closed...not for cooking, definitely. LOL ]^
Imperial Council, Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn :
The Imperial Council was where all the ministers held meetings to discuss matters of the empire. There is a window on top of the chamber, on the wall, called 'The Golden Window'. Here is where the sultan will sit and watch the meetings, without being noticed by the viziers. Clever, huh?
The window can be reached through the Tower of Justice:
The Gate of Felicity leads to the inner court, or the third courtyard:
The third courtyard is the heart of the palace:
^[ The audience chamber, Arz Odası ]^
So, after the viziers ended their meeting, they will be summoned to the audience chamber to give reports to the sultan. "The chamber was thus a place that officials reporting to the sultan entered without knowing if they would leave it again alive." - wikipedia.org
We did not enter the harem. More reasons to come again.
Off to the fourth courtyard~
^[ Fourth courtyard, IV. Avlu, also known as the Imperial Sofa, Sofa-ı Hümâyûn ]^
Okay, this place is like the innermost sanctuary of the sultan. There is an Iftar Pavilion and a 'Moonlit Seat'; where the sultan would break his fast. This courtyard has the most beautiful view of the Golden Horn.
Also, there is a curcumcision room. (I know~ why, right?) It is dedicated to the circumcision of young princes.
***
We could not take pictures in the Imperial Treasury. It was amazingly amazing and wonderfully wondrous! There were a LOT of emeralds, rubies, jades, crystals, diamonds...the whole lot, you know. What really amazed me was even the flasks were studded with emeralds and rubies! Fuh.
***
There was an exhibition of Ahli-Beyt while we were there:
***
There were a collection of royal garments, too! "Mengada-ngada," Ajut said.
***
All in all, you can say that I had a tremendously grand time while touring Topkapi Palace!! It makes you feel proud that we once conquered the world and the world was once ours. The fact that the world is so different now makes you feel sad, though. When you have seen the grandeur and the splendour of this place, you will know that no other empire can ever beat the Ottoman empire in any aspect. Although its wealth, its strength and its pride are all history now...but, history can be repeated, right?
Allahu akbar!
***
This post took me two hours to finish. Wow.
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