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2. The Sultan
The harem is very symbolic of an Ottoman Sultan and the number of concubines he kept in his harem was a sign of his wealth, power and also his sexual appetite. The sultan was also the only person who could freely enter and leave the harem. The introduction of the harem into Ottoman culture began with the adoption of Islam, thus bringing an Arabic tradition together with a religion. This tradition of a sultan’s harem continued until 1923 when the Republic of Turkey was established.

Although the occupants of the harem were predominately slaves, those women who were taken as wives were free women. In addition, each sultan was able to acquire concubines according to his personal taste and preference; Sultan Ibrahim I, who died in 1648, had a passion for women with a full figure and introduced mostly obese women to Harem. He was also known as the “Crazy One” as he once had his entire harem of 280 women thrown into the Bosphorus in weighted sacks. Also, the highest honor that a Sultan could show a guest was to present them an odalisque (lowly harem maid) that he had not slept with.

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