Such concepts as "harems", "sultans", "concubines" are familiar to most of people only according to movies and books. However for some women all this exotic becomes a reality as in a number of the countries the harems exist still.
The Istanbul Seraglio palace which was in possession of the Ottoman Empire was one of outstanding harems. About 2000 concubines lived in four hundred rooms of the palace. The lock was surrounded with the high walls separating it from Istanbul.
Only true beauties could get to Seral, each girl passed rigid "casting". Some of them were taken in a harem by force, parents gave others, without resisting will of the sultan. All concubines Seralya were famous for the unearthly beauty and surprisingly gentle skin. The daily routine of favourites of the sultan included the integral water procedures which are carried out in a bath. For giving to the skin of softness and velvet, concubines used special aromatic oils, their dresses were fumigated with aromas.
Many sultans were accustomed to spy upon the women. As means for free observations served various secret windows. For example, the sultan Ibrahim I specially scattered gemstones and pearls in the territory of the concubines, and then imperceptibly watched girls. Girls were bought for a harem at early age, being still practically children that to the 16 anniversary they could already seize all subtleties of art of seducing of the man. Average age of concubines was 17 years. Girls verses learned to sing and dance, read, it is beautiful to speak, play musical instruments. But the science how to love the man was the main knowledge which passed from father to son, delivering it a pleasure maximum. Besides, in concubines cultivated implicit humility. When the sultan wanted to spend night with the new slave, something was arranged like shows. Concubines stood in a row, and the person on duty on a harem brought together them. The sultan left to them and examined everyone - that on which his look lingered or legs of which had its scarf, was considered as chosen. After voluptuous night brought to the sultan new clothes, old he left on a bed. The concubine with whom he spent night had the right to check pockets of the mister and to take away everything that was in them valuable. Such is there was an incentive payment for night of love. When the concubine fell into "an interesting state", to her gave the rank "Sultaness of Year". If the boy was born, his mother moved ahead on a career ladder, she even acquired the right to operate not for long a harem, and the sultan could marry it. But such marriages happened very seldom, most often after the child's birth sent the concubine to imperial harems or gave to somebody in marriage. The sultan's mother usually undertook the management of a harem, she was called "valide-sultan". She disposed of eunuchs, kept order, etc. The senior woman of a harem carried out duties of her assistant. Besides, they had such positions as the hostess of dresses and a bath, the keeper of jewelry, the reader of the Quran and others. As for the relations between concubines, between them it was not frequent also a hint on friendship. Girls were jealous the sultan to each other, spun intrigues and arranged loud dismantling for what they were inevitably waited by punishment. Rebels and conspirators could be driven out from a harem or even to punish corporally. If you are not frightened by prospect to become the fifth or thirtieth wife in the sultan's harem, you can try the happiness in the countries with the developed polygamous relations. It is Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Syria, Zambia, Morocco, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Algeria and some other.