THE HAREM - TOPKAPI PALACE

There are approximately 300 rooms and 9 hammams in the Harem section of the Topkapi Palace.

The Harem is probably the place that people have the most curiosity about, not only of Topkapi Palace but also of the entire Ottoman period.

It is the most complex building of the palace and looks like a labyrinth. The word itself, which means "forbidden"and "taboo,"gradually became used to refer to the concept of family in Muslim societies.
In the Ottoman palace this word was used to refer to the private and forbidden place where the dynasty lived.
There are approximately 300 rooms, 9 hammams, 2 mosques, 1 hospital, and 1 laundry room inside the Harem.

In 1665 the Harem building caught fire and burned down but was later restored and enlarged several times.
The Harem women called "cariye," learned Turkish and Muslim culture. Some of the Harem women, who were all raised to be the wives of the males of the Ottoman dynasty, stayed in the Harem as the head of the Harem women, and the most elegant ones became part of the dynasty by being at the sen'ice of the sultan.
Some Harem women were granted permission to leave the Harem upon the condition that they were to marry high-level officials from the Enderun. The Harem section was one of the most important areas of the palace and it was strictly controlled.
The Harem Aga was in charge of controlling who entered and exited the Harem.