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Show m po sine: Defenses of a Bloodier Turkish Age ' - " 1 m I . i M if"' J f ' -j , : ' !A i I J jI r, ? ' " ' 5 ' 1 i j t j j , n t 2 ' ' ' i 1 i 1 h I 3 - ui J UAHACTKIUSTIC! of the new Turkey In the fuel that tlie Imrem of tlie Ottomuu suliuus, wlio for centuries tyr-' tyr-' annlzed over the Near Eiist, has been transformed Into a museum, and the casual visitor may wander through precincts once more closely guarded than any other In all the world. The harem was the most luxurious of women's prisons foi prison It was for Its Inhabitants with Its elaborate entrances, pillared courtyards, beautiful mosaics and Jeweled treasures, Including a throne Inlaid with 25,000 pearls and a cradle Inlaid with 120,000 pearls. In the days of Its glory the harem contained from 300 to 400 women at a time. Four of these were the legal wives of the sultan, In accordance with the teachings of the Koran, and the others were attendants of the wives. The picture shows the fortress-like entrance to the palace, which represents several centuries of building. |