Stone Courtyard of Sultan's Favorites

This quiet stone courtyard belonged to the Gözdes. The word Gözde means a favorite woman of the sultan.

The courtyard was made larger during the rule of Sultan Abdülhamid the First. He also had a wooden building made here in the second half of the 18th century. This building was important in harem life. The harem was the private home of the sultan and his family.

Near the kiosk of Sultan Murad the Third, there was a large pool. It is known that the sultans enjoyed watching dwarfs give shows in this pool.

Some remains of old buildings can still tell us about palace life. These were once rooms for princes. They were also used by sultans who had lost the throne.

The lower floor was linked with the Golden Way, a famous passage in the harem. It also held the Mabeyn Chamber of Sultan Abdülhamid the First. Mabeyn means a private room used by the sultan. This chamber had mirrored windows and decoration in the rococo style. Rococo means light, curved, and pretty decoration.

The upper floor was used by the sultan’s wives and the Gözdes. Later, when more women began to live in this part of the harem, empty rooms were given to the women of the harem.

This part of the palace was connected with several important places. One door, decorated with mother-of-pearl, led to the Mosque of the Harem. Mother-of-pearl is the shiny inside of a shell. Other connections led toward the Imperial Sofa terrace, called Sofa-i Hümayun, and the Chamber of the Sacred Mantle, called Hırka-i Saadet. Another connection led back toward the stone courtyard of the Black Eunuchs, the servants who guarded the harem.