Saksagan
The Stairway-Turret and Its Purpose
Construction of the Stairway-Turret
The passages that connect the stairway to the chambers in Tower N suggest that the stairway-turret and Tower N were likely...
Later Construction of Wall BB
At a later time, a new wall, labeled BB, was built behind the earlier wall AA. This new wall had strong buttresses, both on...
A Global Contribution to St. Sophia’s Splendor
When St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) was being built, materials for its construction came from all over the world. As was the custom at that...
A Unique Auction Story
A friend of mine shared an interesting story about an auction he attended not long ago, where an English lady was bidding on some...
Bargains During Ramazan A Unique Bazaar Experience
In some parts of the bazaars in Constantinople (now Istanbul), you will find many second-hand dealers. These shops become especially important during Ramazan, the...
General Grant’s Lasting Legacy and the Hidden World of the Ottoman Harem
A Global Icon's Enduring Influence
General Ulysses S. Grant's famous tour around the world after his presidency created an extraordinary and lasting impression on leaders...
Two Sides of a Controversial Sultan
Religious Devotion and Political Violence
The Missionaries' Harsh Judgment
Christian missionaries working in the Ottoman Empire held extremely negative views of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. These...
The Insider’s Revenge
How a Minister's Son Exposed the Sultan
A Family Legacy of Power and Influence
Gorges Dorys, the author who dared to expose the Sultan's private life,...
The Lives of Turkish-Mahommedan Women
In Salonika, there are also Turkish-Mahommedan women, who live very differently from the Christian and Jewish women. These women are always dressed in plain...
The Deunmeh A Unique Group of Women
There is another group of women in Salonika who are very different in both appearance and social status. These women belong to a group...
