Day 386: Holy Relics

Post from Tim:

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul housed the leaders of the Ottoman empire for 623 years, surrounding them in luxury befitting an empire that stretched from Hungary to Yemen and from north Africa to Iran. Its rooms shine with inlaid mother of pearl, rich Turkish tile work, Arabesque ornamentation, and silk Turkish carpets.

The family's living quarters, or Harem, display some of the finest workmanship. But the safekeeping rooms that house holy relics intrigued me more. Their bizarre collection had me guessing the authenticity of each artifact and left me wondering if the rooms were full of hoaxes or genuine items. There is little question the palace takes these items seriously, considering the rooms sacred. A imam even prays constantly from a booth in the corner of one of the rooms.

You be the judge. Is that stick really the Baton of the Prophet Moses? Does that bottle really contain The Dust Brought from the Tomb of the Holy Prophet Mohammed? Was that sword once owned by the biblical David? How about the gold-framed footprint... did Mohammed really make that? Do these gold-jeweled boxes really contain Mohammed's teeth? Are those curly hairs encased in blown glass really plucked from Mohammed's beard?

I don't know. You'll have to decide for yourself.

Photos From This Location

Light filters down on a bismillah in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years. Bismillahs typically read as a prayer to God, with meanings similar to ""In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind.""
Light filters down on a bismillah in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years. Bismillahs typically read as a prayer to God, with meanings similar to ""In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind.""
Arabesque designs inside of Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years.
Arabesque designs inside of Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years.
Intricate Turkish tile work and chandelier in Topkapi Palace's Sacred Safe-keeping Rooms. Topkapi Palace was Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years. The Sacred Safe-keeping Rooms still hold sacred possessions once owned by the Prophet Mohammed.
Intricate Turkish tile work and chandelier in Topkapi Palace's Sacred Safe-keeping Rooms. Topkapi Palace was Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years. The Sacred Safe-keeping Rooms still hold sacred possessions once owned by the Prophet Mohammed.
An intricate ablution fountain in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years.
An intricate ablution fountain in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years.
Arabesque patterns of light filtering through a skylight in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years.
Arabesque patterns of light filtering through a skylight in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans for almost 400 years.
Sun filters across Turkish tile work and mother-of-pearl doors in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans.
Sun filters across Turkish tile work and mother-of-pearl doors in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans.
Sun filters across a red couch and mother-of-pearl doors in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans.
Sun filters across a red couch and mother-of-pearl doors in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul's home of the sultans.

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