Inspecting the New Slaves

The new slave girls entered the chamber that evening mostly naked. Kidnapped from their native shores by bands of Islamic fighters in swift corsairs, they were quickly carried back to the Ottoman capital. They came from far-flung areas of the empire. From England and Ireland to the Balkans and the Mediterranean and to the African shores, they were captured in great numbers and went through the same process: They were stripped of their humble clothes, bathed, shaved and assessed according to their inherent worth.

The most shapely and beautiful were singled out for the palace harem. Coiffed, depilated and perfumed, they were given a few accessories to wear, some slippers, a bit of jewelry and some bits of sleeve and shoulder coverings, but nothing that provided any modesty. They were to remain in this state until the palace eunuchs could determine if they were to be added to the harem.

In the dim light of the chamber they were being watched and judged. They were chosen for their beauty and their figures, which were the preferences of the sultan. They were told to not cover themselves, but to embrace their new roles as odalisques of the court. They were to strike the most inviting poses if they wished to live in the palace. If they were rejected, it was to the slave market they would go, where they could be treated very badly. It was this realization that motivated them to gain acceptance and make the best of the situation.