On Harems and Mara Beboos

Harem. The World Behind The Veil by Alev Lytle Croutier.  This fascinating book is so chock full of interesting tidbits it's difficult to know where to begin.  Maybe I'll just start off talking about the photos I posted (in no particular order) and see where this leads me.

3 women sit below without their veils in a Turkish harem.  Accompanying this photo is an interesting account on the importance of making a proper cup of Turkish coffee, back in the day.  As I sit here sipping on chocolate black tea, I am now craving a hot cup of coffee.  Turkish coffee to be specific. Curious. According to the author it was not considered good form for harem women to indulge in coffee or alcohol, although the demand was upon them to make a darn tasty cup of it. 

Harem women also served a popular Turkish drink called Raku which is said to be similar to absinthe  (yeah, I 'm curious about that too.)  Here is an interesting link for all of you who are into collecting absinthe collectibles.

Time out. Click on the video for a little mood music before proceeding please. Okay, carry on.

This next image is by John Singer Sargent circa 1880.  I had not seen it before. Beautiful.

Here you see two eunuchs seated before a harem.  Admittedly this particular chapter is verrrrrry interesting. I rambled on about this subject in great detail to the husband on the way to see Michael Jackson.  We never made it.  We were running late and became detoured by two estate sales.  But I digress.  Back to the eunuchs.  The husband was not amused.

 

I was surprised to learn that eunuchs begin to show up in way early Mesopotamia.  Queens began castrating male slaves in 9th century B.C.   It's difficult to believe that anyone would willingly choose to be castrated.  Apparently some men did.   

 

This image was staged by an American photographer.  Well I'll be.  I just noticed that it looks like she is smoking a cigarette.  Didn't notice that at first.  The smoking of tobacco and the use of water pipes was a common past time in some harems.  It was not something that was done in front of men. 

An Algerian and Her Slave, circa 1860, Oil on Canvas, Musee National des Arts Africains et Oceaniens, Paris.

The Reception, 1873 Oil on panel, John Frederick Lewis.

 

A traditional wedding dress in red velvet and embellished with gold embroidery.

The Siesta, John Frederick Lewis, 1876, Oil on canvas, Tate Gallery London.  The author writes "An opiated beauty sinks into oblivion." 

 

Another staged photo of a women in "typical" harem outfit.

 

This photo shows an actual hall where Sultans were entertained by women of the harem.  I'm sure that this picture does not do the real site justice.  I imagine that it is much more beautiful in person.
 

The White Slave, 1888, Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte de Nuoy.
 

This next image I find to be especially intriguing.  It illustrates the inside of a palace and shows a harem going about its normal daily affairs.  The fact that it dates back to the 16th century is even more thrilling.  For me at least.  I get giddy over this sort of thing.  I am lucky to have a hubby that lets me ramble on about eunuchs and water pipes.

  

My hands are giving out.  There is enough in this incredible book for a billion and one posts.  I shall carry on another day.  But before I go...

MARA BEBOOS

Kiss me
kiss me
For one last time
May God be with you
For I go toward my destiny

Our spring has passed
The bygones are bygones
I am in

search of destiny
In the midst of storm, among boatmen
One must move forward, at the risk of life
In the dark of the night I meet with my beloved

To light up the mountains with fire.

I travel in the dark of the night.

I travel on dangerous roads
Look, my flower
Don't cast the seed of sorrow
Upon me

Kiss me
Kiss me
For one last time
May God be with you
For I go toward my destiny

Our spring has passed
The bygones are bygones
I am in search of destiny

Pretty girl
I am your guest tonight
I will stay with you
To press your lips against mine

Pretty girl
The sparkle in your eye
Your innocent tears
Light up my night

Kiss me
Kiss me
For one last time
May God be with you
For I go toward my destiny

Our spring has passed
The bygones are bygones

I am in search of destiny

Mara beboos as translated by Rouben Rostamian.

Years ago a dear co-worker surprised me by taking me to a Mid-Eastern restaurant for lunch.  Softly playing in the background was some of the most beautiful strings I had ever heard.   Weeks passed and one day she appeared in front of me with a cassette of this very same music.  

The beautiful notes of Farid Farjad never left my heart and soul.  His version of the classic Persian song Mara Beboos is still my fave but there are countless versions out in there.  In the post I have shared two of them.   Beautiful and haunting in almost any version, my list of different versions of this song is continuously growing. 

The song also reminds me of my father who never knew the words but who said that the song made him sad when I first played it for him.  For you daddy.

Comments

[Dsata]

Great post. I especially like the painting "An Algerian and Her Slave" and the one of John Singer Sargent.