The Palace of the Seraglio or secrets of the Turkish harem

The Palace of the Seraglio, located in the city of Istanbul, was one of the most prominent in the Ottoman Empire. His greatness and intrigues, and reigned in the Palace of interest to many to this day. In the harem of the Seraglio lived about two thousand concubines, as a Turkish origin, and foreign women. The concubine, the smashing into the walls of the mysterious Seraglio could be only a "select" the girl who passed strict selection. Beauty, taken in the harem, to comply with clear rules. The Hammam or in our bath was an integral part of the everyday life of the concubines. Here the girls clock washed and bothered, rubbed his skin spices, and various aromatic oils, make each other a massage and carefully took care of their skin and hair. The main task of harem girls have to learn how to deliver my Sultan is a real pleasure. They also learned to sing, dance, foreign studied Turkish. In General, every girl she learned most of what had abilities.

(Photo from the source: http://photo-turkey.org.ua/foto-kompleksa-topkapi-seral.html)
If the Sultan liked a concubine, he threw her a handkerchief, it was a sign of favor from the Sultan and the fact that the next night she needs to spend in the apartment of the owner. If concubine to get pregnant, then received the rank of sultanesses her to set aside separate chambers. In particular, if born boy, the Sultana received great privilege and power. But give birth to a child Sultan, it is still very small, it was necessary to permanently keep the attention on their person. In the harem trailed cruel intrigue, as each concubine had dreamed of for a long time keep the Sultan with a number, and have power. Therefore, something sought only the strongest. The most intelligent, cunning and, of course, beautiful.