During our sightseeing last week in Turkey, Michelle and I got to visit the famous Topkapi Palace, built by one of the Sultan's of the Ottoman Empire in the 1400s. Among its grand collections were:
- an 86 carat pear-shaped diamond
- the beard & sword of the Prophet Mohammed
- the wooden staff of Moses
- the sword of King David
- an assortment of fine silk robes from the sultan's wardrobe
- the harem quarters, with 400 rooms for its residents
- a building used for one of the Nicea Councils
- the rotted flesh and bone hand of John the Baptist
- old keys to the Kaaba (Muslim shrine in Mecca)
- a footprint of the Prophet Mohammed
- a diamond encrusted chainmail armor-suit worn by a sultan
- gigantic jewel-encrusted plumes used to add splendor to the Sultan's turbans
Just an interesting assortment of "sights" to see. Photography was not allowed in most of the exhibits, but I found a few online images. For the most part, you'll just have to take my word for it- just as I had to take their word for it (really? John the Baptist arm? how? and why?).
Just an interesting assortment of "sights" to see. Photography was not allowed in most of the exhibits, but I found a few online images. For the most part, you'll just have to take my word for it- just as I had to take their word for it (really? John the Baptist arm? how? and why?).
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