The palace where the cloak is kept. The palace that houses the rarest relics of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
He constantly feared conspiracies and created a wide network of informants. Since 1878, a reactionary, repressive regime was established in Turkey, which the Turks called "zulum" - oppression. In European countries, Abdul-Hamid II was nicknamed the "bloody sultan". In 1909 he was deposed as a result of a military coup, and his brother was proclaimed the new sultan. Abdul-Hamid was exiled to Thessaloniki, only at the beginning of the Balkan wars he was returned to Istanbul. He ended his days in the summer palace of the Beylerbey sultans.
Miniature with a portrait of Sultan Ahmed I. Turkey, first half of the 18th century
The miniature was made in the Ottoman Empire in the period 1703-1730 by the famous artist of that era, Levni. His real name was Abdulcelil Celebi. Originally from Edirne, he entered the service of the court workshop, which was responsible for wall paintings. At the beginning of his career, Celebi was engaged in ornamental paintings and gilding, then he showed the talent of a miniaturist. He was entrusted with the creation of the "Large Illustrated Genealogy" of the Ottoman family. For the first time in the history of Turkish art, images of sultans were painted, not connected with the text of the manuscript, but representing separate portrait miniatures.
Sultan Ahmed I, the builder of the famous mosque, is shown sitting cross-legged on a red carpet with a yellow cushion. He is depicted as a young man with a black beard and mustache. On the Sultan's head is a snow-white turban with an aigret hanging down - a symbol of supreme power. He is dressed in a ceremonial caftan with long folding sleeves and patch fasteners, lined with fur. The caftan is made of green fabric with a large pattern in the form of stylized flowers. From under his folded sleeves, the sleeves of an undercoat made of a gray-lilac fabric with a floral pattern can be seen. Apparently, the lining of the caftan, which is visible below, is also made of the same material. On the miniatures created by Levni, there are no symbols of power in the hands of many padishahs, including Ahmed.
Miniature "Reception at the Sultan Selim II". Turkey, second half of the 16th century
The miniature from the Shahnameh-i-Selim-Khan book is a testament to the stable Ottoman tradition of creating illustrated histories of each reign, which arose already in the 16th century. Handwritten books were not subject to the Islamic ban on the depiction of living beings.
Sultan Selim is depicted sitting on a golden throne under a canopy. He is dressed in a light-colored robe, girded with a red belt, and a dark blue caftan, with a high turban on his head. On his right hand are the Grand Vizier and other high officials of the state, behind him is the chief squire and guardian of the Sultan's mantle. On the heads of the latter are high red-gold headdresses. The squire occupied the third place in the court hierarchy after the vizier and custodian of the Sultan's chambers. In the Sultan's treasury, they were responsible for the safety of the ruler's personal weapons. During solemn processions, the duty of the squire was to ride on the right hand of the Sultan and hold his saber. The chief squire is dressed in a blue caftan with a gold belt. The custodian of the sultan's robe was the sultan's personal valet and rode right behind him. His duties included monitoring the safety of the entire magnificent wardrobe of the sovereign. The keeper of the mantle is dressed in a red caftan with a golden belt, he holds one of the symbols of power - a golden matara (richly decorated flask with water). Beside them stands a large group of lesser-ranking courtiers. The persons invited to the audience are located below. One of them bows low to the padishah, the other knelt before the throne.
Chamber of sacred relics in the third courtyard
On the left side of the third courtyard, behind the Mosque of the White Eunuchs, is the Sultan's Chamber, erected under Mehmed Fatih as the place of his permanent residence. At the beginning of the 16th century, under Selim Yavuz (Grozny), its appearance changed - a new building was added, which is called the Pavilion of Sacred Relics. After Selim's conquest of Mamluk Egypt in 1517, the Turkish sultans also began to bear the title of Caliph, the religious head of the orthodox Sunni Muslims. From Cairo to Istanbul, on the orders of Selim, the main shrines of Islam were transferred, which were in the possession of the last Abbasid caliphs - distant relatives of the prophet himself.
In the Chamber there are keys and locks from the Kaaba, the keepers of which for a number of centuries were Turkish sultans, gutters from its roof, details of the bedspreads that change annually at the shrine, fragments of reliquaries from the famous Black Stone. In addition, there are models of the Kaaba, made of different materials, as well as models of the mosque in Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad was buried, and the mosque "Dome of the Rock" in Jerusalem. Among the sacred relics are also the few surviving personal belongings of the prophet - his cloak and sword. One of the shrines, not quite common for the Muslim world, reminds of the earthly journey of Muhammad. This is a casket with his tooth, knocked out in the first battle for Islam during the Withdrawal on March 19, 652, when the Muslim army was defeated during the war between Mecca and Medina. Also here are the things of his closest relatives, for example, the shirt and dressing gown of his beloved daughter Fatima, the mother of his only grandchildren. The swords of his closest associates, Umar and Usman, have also been preserved.
Sacred relics also include things associated with biblical and gospel characters mentioned in the Koran. For example, the dish of Patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim), who is considered the ancestor of all Arabs, a small wooden rod - according to legend, the prophet Moses (Musa) used it to draw water from a rock. In addition, there is the sword of the pious Israeli king David (Dawud) and clothes attributed to Patriarch Joseph (Yusuf). Among the greatest relics revered by Christians is the ark with the right hand of John the Baptist (Yahya).
Despite the fact that now the exhibition of sacred relics is considered a museum exhibition, a large number of Muslims come here to not only look at the ancient shrines, but also bow to them.
Sword of the Prophet Muhammad. Arabia, 7th century
The sword of the Prophet Muhammad is one of the main shrines of Islam, as it not only has a memorial value, but is also covered with many legends. Tradition says that during his life, Muhammad wielded nine swords, each of which had its own name. Some of them he inherited, others he received as a gift from his comrades-in-arms, others he captured in battles as trophies.
However, Mohammed was not a warrior by profession, he was born in 571 into a family of wealthy merchants and spent the first half of his life in Mecca completely peacefully. Left an orphan at an early age, he was brought up first by his grandfather, then by his uncles. Muhammad did not get a large inheritance, and at the age of 25 he married a wealthy widow older than himself. Leading a prosperous life, he left trade and began to show interest in philosophical and religious teachings, of which many were known in Arabia. At the age of about 40 years, in 610, the first revelation was sent to him, and soon Muhammad began to preach the doctrine of faith in one Allah. His activities in Mecca led to a conflict with some of its inhabitants, including relatives. The Prophet with his supporters in 622 made the Hijra - the resettlement from Mecca to Medina. Since that time, the Muslim chronology has been counting down. A year later, a war began between the supporters of Muhammad and the adherents of polytheism from Mecca, during which some of the swords stored today in Topkapi were used.
However, the sword al-Kadyb (“Bar”, “Rod”) was never used in battles, such weapons were used by travelers and pilgrims on dangerous medieval roads. It has a narrow thin blade about a meter long. On one side of it, the Arabic inscription “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His prophet” is displayed in silver. Mohammed bin Abdallah bin Abd al-Mutallib." There is no indication in any historical source that this sword was used in any battle. It remained in the house of the Prophet Muhammad and was used later by the caliphs from the Fatimid dynasty. The tanned leather scabbard appears to have been restored in later eras.
In addition to this sword, Topkapi has several other blades that also belonged to Muhammad. Another of his swords is preserved today in the Hussein Mosque in Cairo.
Treasury Building
One of the oldest buildings of the third courtyard is the so-called Fatih Pavilion (Fatih Köshku), whose body stretched along the Sea of Marmara. Its building, also called Enderun Hazinesi (Treasury of the Inner Court), was built during the time of Sultan Mehmed II (circa 1460) and was among the first in the emerging structure of the new palace. It was conceived as a place to store the main treasures of the Sultan's treasury, which could leave the palace only on especially important occasions.
The world would be a very boring place without the unknown, the mystical and the supernatural. Throughout history, there have been artifacts that have been attributed magical properties, and also that were beyond human comprehension. In our review of 10 supernatural relics and their unusual stories.
1. Buddha tooth
According to legend, when the Buddha was cremated, only the left canine was left of his body. The tooth became a symbol of the Buddha, and after that, many people fought for the right to own such a relic. Today, the tooth is officially kept in the "Temple of the Tooth" in Sri Lanka, but over the centuries, quite incredible stories have happened to it. The tooth of the Buddha was first mentioned as an ornament in the hairstyle of Princess Dantapura in the 4th century AD.
During the era of colonization, the Portuguese, who seized control of Sri Lanka, burned the tooth, declaring it heresy. At the same time, the ashes were thrown into the ocean. Fortunately, the burned tooth was a fake, and the real one was carefully preserved for centuries. Some visitors to the temple claim that the relic has healing properties.
2 Dunvegan Fairy Flag
The famous Macleod clan in Scotland owns a relic that has been passed down from generation to generation. According to one legend, this flag originally belonged to the Norwegian king Harald Hardrad, and with it the king went to conquer Great Britain in 1066. When the king was killed, the flag was passed on to his descendants. According to another version, which the representatives of the MacLeods themselves insist on, the fourth leader of the clan fell in love with a fairy princess, who was forbidden to marry mortal people. Her father eventually relented, and the princess was allowed to spend a year and a day with her beloved. During this time, she gave birth to a boy. To prevent her child from crying, she covered him with a magical blanket, under which the child immediately calmed down. As a result, this blanket became the flag of the clan.
The flag supposedly has magic that will protect clan members if needed, but only three times. In 1490, under this flag, the MacLeods fought the MacDonalds and won. In 1520, the flag was again used in battle against the Macdonalds, and victory was again won.
3. Cloak of the Prophet Muhammad
The cloak worn by the Prophet Muhammad is a sacred relic. According to legend, the cloak was brought to Afghanistan by the first king of the modern Afghan state, Ahmad Shah Durrani. Today, the remains of the king and the cloak are in a well-guarded shrine in Kandahar. The cloak is kept under lock and key, the key to which is owned only by the family of keepers. In 1996, the cloak was made their symbol of the Taliban when Mullah Omar appeared with it in front of an audience. Thus, he violated the unwritten law of Islam, which forbade showing the cloak to people.
4. Relics of St. John the Baptist
There are many stories about one of the main figures in early biblical history, as well as about relics associated with John the Baptist. In 2010, during excavations on the island of St. John in Bulgaria, a small urn was found containing pieces of a skull, jaw, hand and tooth. Nearby was a small box engraved with the saint's birthday (June 24).
The authenticity of the find has been criticized, but these relics are more likely to be real than anything else known to date. When archaeologists from the University of Oxford X-rayed the remains, they found that the bones date back to the first century AD, when Saint John was beheaded on the orders of King Herod.
5. Life-Giving Cross
Just as in the case of the relics of St. John the Baptist, many parts of the Life-Giving Cross are kept in churches around the world. It is generally accepted that the real relic is in the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. In addition to the three pieces of wood that were allegedly part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified, other relics are also kept in the church, such as two needles from the crown of thorns of Christ and one of the nails that were used in the crucifixion. The relics were collected by Saint Helena, who became famous thanks to the legalization of Christianity.
6. Stone of Destiny
The Stone of Destiny, also called Skoon Stone, has long been the site of the coronation of the rulers of Scotland. Not surprisingly, he was also a bone of contention between Scotland and England. Information about how this artifact appeared has long been lost. According to one legend, it was the stone that Jacob used as a pillow when he dreamed of ascending to heaven. It was also said that the Ark later moored to this stone.
It is likely that the stone came to Great Britain via Ireland, where it was used to confirm the oath of their kings. In 840, the stone was moved from Scone to Perthshire, where it became the site of a union between Picts and Scots. In 1292, John Balliol, who was the last king of Scotland to receive this honor, was crowned on stone. In 1296, Edward I captured the Stone of Destiny and took it to Westminster Abbey, where it was kept for centuries. In 1996, the stone was returned to Scotland, but some are convinced that it is a fake.
7. Cortana, sword of mercy
The coronation of British monarchs has historically been a rather complicated process. In the UK, there are several swords that are used at the coronation of new monarchs: the Great Sword of the Sovereign, the Precious Sacrificial Sword, the Sword of Spiritual Justice, the Sword of Worldly Justice, and Cortana - the sword of mercy. Cortana is the only nominal sword that was named at the coronation of Henry III in the early 13th century. The flat blade of the sword was shortened, and the sharp end was completely removed. According to legend, the sword first appeared as part of the royal regalia under King John in 1199. He received the sword at the time he became Count of Mortain. And the legendary knight Tristan is considered the original owner of the sword.
8. Cup of Nanteos
There are several legends about the Cup of Nanteos, a small wooden drinking vessel that was found in the ruined Welsh mansion of Nanteos. Many believers believe that the Cup of Nanteos is the Holy Grail. The first records of the bowl appeared in 1870 when it was exhibited at Lampeter University. By 1906, not only was the chalice strongly associated with the Grail, but healing properties were also attributed to it. Despite the fact that the cup (as studies have shown) was created in the Middle Ages, a new legend was born. Sick and elderly people were given water to drink from a bowl, and some of them claimed to be healed. In July 2014, the bowl was stolen.
9. Leah Fail
Like the Stone of Destiny (sometimes these stones are even confused), Leah Fail is the stone on which the ancient kings of Ireland were crowned. Leah Fail, who stands on the Hill of Tara, has been a central figure in the coronations of Irish kings, as well as celebrations held in their honor, for more than 5,000 years. The 1.5-meter stone was transported several times, and it took its current location in 1824. According to legend, Leah Fail was one of the four gifts brought to the mortal world by the tribe of the goddess Danu. Other gifts were a sword, a spear, and a cauldron.
10. Keystone
In the list of unusual stories, one cannot but recall Jerusalem. The Temple Mount is the crossroads of three very different religions in which it is considered sacred. Among the most revered places in Jerusalem is the Cornerstone, which formed the basis of the Temple Mount, also known as the Holy Court.
According to Muslim beliefs, the Cornerstone is the place where Muhammad was resurrected. It is also believed to be the origin of all the fresh water in the world. Muslims believe that under the Cornerstone there is a bottomless pit where the souls of the dead await their judgment. According to Jewish beliefs, this is the place where the creation of the world began. The stone is also the place where the Ten Commandments were created.
The world would be a very boring place without the unknown, the mystical and the supernatural. Throughout history, there have been artifacts that have been attributed magical properties, and also that were beyond human comprehension. In this review, 10 supernatural relics and their unusual stories.
1. Buddha tooth
According to legend, when the Buddha was cremated, only the left canine was left of his body. The tooth became a symbol of the Buddha, and after that, many people fought for the right to own such a relic. Today, the tooth is officially kept in the "Temple of the Tooth" in Sri Lanka, but over the centuries, quite incredible stories have happened to it. The tooth of the Buddha was first mentioned as an ornament in the hairstyle of Princess Dantapura in the 4th century AD.
During the era of colonization, the Portuguese, who seized control of Sri Lanka, burned the tooth, declaring it heresy. At the same time, the ashes were thrown into the ocean. Fortunately, the burned tooth was a fake, and the real one was carefully preserved for centuries. Some visitors to the temple claim that the relic has healing properties.
2 Dunvegan Fairy Flag
The famous Macleod clan in Scotland owns a relic that has been passed down from generation to generation. According to one legend, this flag originally belonged to the Norwegian king Harald Hardrad, and with it the king went to conquer Great Britain in 1066. When the king was killed, the flag was passed on to his descendants. According to another version, which the representatives of the MacLeods themselves insist on, the fourth leader of the clan fell in love with a fairy princess, who was forbidden to marry mortal people. Her father eventually relented, and the princess was allowed to spend a year and a day with her beloved. During this time, she gave birth to a boy. To prevent her child from crying, she covered him with a magical blanket, under which the child immediately calmed down. As a result, this blanket became the flag of the clan.
The flag supposedly has magic that will protect clan members if needed, but only three times. In 1490, under this flag, the MacLeods fought the MacDonalds and won. In 1520, the flag was again used in battle against the Macdonalds, and victory was again won.
3. Cloak of the Prophet Muhammad
The cloak worn by the Prophet Muhammad is a sacred relic. According to legend, the cloak was brought to Afghanistan by the first king of the modern Afghan state, Ahmad Shah Durrani. Today, the remains of the king and the cloak are in a well-guarded shrine in Kandahar. The cloak is kept under lock and key, the key to which is owned only by the family of keepers. In 1996, the cloak was made their symbol of the Taliban when Mullah Omar appeared with it in front of an audience. Thus, he violated the unwritten law of Islam, which forbade showing the cloak to people.
4. Relics of St. John the Baptist
There are many stories about one of the main figures in early biblical history, as well as about relics associated with John the Baptist. In 2010, during excavations on the island of St. John in Bulgaria, a small urn was found containing pieces of a skull, jaw, hand and tooth. Nearby was a small box engraved with the saint's birthday (June 24).
The authenticity of the find has been criticized, but these relics are more likely to be real than anything else known to date. When archaeologists from the University of Oxford X-rayed the remains, they found that the bones date back to the first century AD, when Saint John was beheaded on the orders of King Herod.
5. Life-Giving Cross
Just as in the case of the relics of St. John the Baptist, many parts of the Life-Giving Cross are kept in churches around the world. It is generally accepted that the real relic is in the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. In addition to the three pieces of wood that were allegedly part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified, other relics are also kept in the church, such as two needles from the crown of thorns of Christ and one of the nails that were used in the crucifixion. The relics were collected by Saint Helena, who became famous thanks to the legalization of Christianity.
6. Stone of Destiny
The Stone of Destiny, also called Skoon Stone, has long been the site of the coronation of the rulers of Scotland. Not surprisingly, he was also a bone of contention between Scotland and England. Information about how this artifact appeared has long been lost. According to one legend, it was the stone that Jacob used as a pillow when he dreamed of ascending to heaven. It was also said that the Ark later moored to this stone.
It is likely that the stone came to Great Britain via Ireland, where it was used to confirm the oath of their kings. In 840, the stone was moved from Scone to Perthshire, where it became the site of a union between Picts and Scots. In 1292, John Balliol, who was the last king of Scotland to receive this honor, was crowned on stone. In 1296, Edward I captured the Stone of Destiny and took it to Westminster Abbey, where it was kept for centuries. In 1996, the stone was returned to Scotland, but some are convinced that it is a fake.
7. Cortana, sword of mercy
The coronation of British monarchs has historically been a rather complicated process. In the UK, there are several swords that are used at the coronation of new monarchs: the Great Sword of the Sovereign, the Precious Sacrificial Sword, the Sword of Spiritual Justice, the Sword of Worldly Justice, and Cortana - the sword of mercy. Cortana is the only nominal sword that was named at the coronation of Henry III in the early 13th century. The flat blade of the sword was shortened, and the sharp end was completely removed. According to legend, the sword first appeared as part of the royal regalia under King John in 1199. He received the sword at the time he became Count of Mortain. And the legendary knight Tristan is considered the original owner of the sword.
8. Cup of Nanteos
There are several legends about the Cup of Nanteos, a small wooden drinking vessel that was found in the ruined Welsh mansion of Nanteos. Many believers believe that the Cup of Nanteos is the Holy Grail. The first records of the bowl appeared in 1870 when it was exhibited at Lampeter University. By 1906, not only was the chalice strongly associated with the Grail, but healing properties were also attributed to it. Despite the fact that the cup (as studies have shown) was created in the Middle Ages, a new legend was born. Sick and elderly people were given water to drink from a bowl, and some of them claimed to be healed. In July 2014, the bowl was stolen.
9. Leah Fail
Like the Stone of Destiny (sometimes these stones are even confused), Leah Fail is the stone on which the ancient kings of Ireland were crowned. Leah Fail, who stands on the Hill of Tara, has been a central figure in the coronations of Irish kings, as well as celebrations held in their honor, for more than 5,000 years. The 1.5-meter stone was transported several times, and it took its current location in 1824. According to legend, Leah Fail was one of the four gifts brought to the mortal world by the tribe of the goddess Danu. Other gifts were a sword, a spear, and a cauldron.
10. Keystone
In the list of unusual stories, one cannot but recall Jerusalem. The Temple Mount is the crossroads of three very different religions in which it is considered sacred. Among the most revered places in Jerusalem is the Cornerstone, which formed the basis of the Temple Mount, also known as the Holy Court.
According to Muslim beliefs, the Cornerstone is the place where Muhammad was resurrected. It is also believed to be the origin of all the fresh water in the world. Muslims believe that under the Cornerstone there is a bottomless pit where the souls of the dead await their judgment. According to Jewish beliefs, this is the place where the creation of the world began. The stone is also the place where the Ten Commandments were created.
"Topkapi Saray" - "Topkapi Palace". In Russian pronunciation it is also "Topkapi", and in translation the palace is "Cannon gates".
The name of the palace complex comes from the fact that at the entrance and exit of the Sultan from the palace, an honorary cannon volley was heard. In the origin of the name, the historical memory also played its role that under the Byzantines, there were also gates approximately at this place.
Since 1924, the palace has been a museum, and before that it served for several centuries as the main sultan's residence, but in the last years of the empire's existence it already occupied a secondary place, because. the sultans had a European-style residence - Dolmabahce.
Among the sights of Topkapi, the part of the treasury deserves special attention, where, in particular, the personal holy relics of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of the Almighty) are stored - a golden sword, a bow, an amber seal, a tuft of hair from a beard, a footprint, the silver throne of the prophet ( peace and blessings be upon him).
Sultans necessarily visited the room with the holy relics of Muhammad (peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon him) - the so-called. "Collection of relics" annually in the month of Ramadan. The holy relics were brought by Sultan Selim I in 1517 from Egypt, during the conquest of this country. Artifacts that are not related to the prophet (peace and blessings of the Almighty) are also exhibited in the relic room.
guardian of the Sultan's quarters. In the Sultan's treasury, they were responsible for the safety of the ruler's personal weapons. During solemn processions, the duty of the squire was to ride on the right hand of the Sultan and hold his saber. The chief squire is dressed in a blue caftan with a gold belt. The custodian of the sultan's robe was the sultan's personal valet and rode right behind him. His duties included monitoring the safety of the entire magnificent wardrobe of the sovereign. The keeper of the mantle is dressed in a red caftan with a golden belt, he holds one of the symbols of power - a golden matara (richly decorated flask with water). Beside them stands a large group of lesser-ranking courtiers. The persons invited to the audience are located below. One of them bows low to the padishah, the other knelt before the throne.
Chamber of sacred relics in the third courtyard
On the left side of the third courtyard, behind the Mosque of the White Eunuchs, is the Sultan's Chamber, erected under Mehmed Fatih as the place of his permanent residence. At the beginning of the 16th century, under Selim Yavuz (Grozny), its appearance changed - a new building was added, which is called the Pavilion of Sacred Relics. After Selim's conquest of Mamluk Egypt in 1517, the Turkish sultans also began to bear the title of Caliph, the religious head of the orthodox Sunni Muslims. From Cairo to Istanbul, on the orders of Selim, the main shrines of Islam were transferred, which were in the possession of the last Abbasid caliphs - distant relatives of the prophet himself.
In the Chamber there are keys and locks from the Kaaba, the keepers of which for a number of centuries were Turkish sultans, gutters from its roof, details of the bedspreads that change annually at the shrine, fragments of reliquaries from the famous Black Stone. In addition, there are models of the Kaaba, made of different materials, as well as models of the mosque in Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad was buried, and the mosque "Dome of the Rock" in Jerusalem. Among the sacred relics are also the few surviving personal belongings of the prophet - his cloak and sword. One of the shrines, not quite common for the Muslim world, reminds of the earthly journey of Muhammad. This is a casket with his tooth, knocked out in the first battle for Islam during the Withdrawal on March 19, 652, when the Muslim army was defeated during the war between Mecca and Medina. Also here are the things of his closest relatives, for example, the shirt and dressing gown of his beloved daughter Fatima, the mother of his only grandchildren. The swords of his closest associates, Umar and Usman, have also been preserved.
Sacred relics also include things associated with biblical and gospel characters mentioned in the Koran. For example, the dish of Patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim), who is considered the ancestor of all Arabs, a small wooden rod - according to legend, the prophet Moses (Musa) used it to draw water from a rock. In addition, there is the sword of the pious Israeli king David (Dawud) and clothes attributed to Patriarch Joseph (Yusuf). Among the greatest relics revered by Christians is the ark with the right hand of John the Baptist (Yahya).
Despite the fact that now the exhibition of sacred relics is considered a museum exhibition, a large number of Muslims come here to not only look at the ancient shrines, but also bow to them.
Sword of the Prophet Muhammad. Arabia, 7th century
The sword of the Prophet Muhammad is one of the main shrines of Islam, as it not only has a memorial value, but is also covered with many legends. Tradition says that during his life, Muhammad wielded nine swords, each of which had its own name. Some of them he inherited, others he received as a gift from his comrades-in-arms, others he captured in battles as trophies.
However, Mohammed was not a warrior by profession, he was born in 571 into a family of wealthy merchants and spent the first half of his life in Mecca completely peacefully. Left an orphan at an early age, he was brought up first by his grandfather, then by his uncles. Muhammad did not get a large inheritance, and at the age of 25 he married a wealthy widow older than himself. Leading a prosperous life, he left trade and began to show interest in philosophical and religious teachings, of which many were known in Arabia. At the age of about 40 years, in 610, the first revelation was sent to him, and soon Muhammad began to preach the doctrine of faith in one Allah. His activities in Mecca led to a conflict with some of its inhabitants, including relatives. The Prophet with his supporters in 622 made the Hijra - the resettlement from Mecca to Medina. Since that time, the Muslim chronology has been counting down. A year later, a war began between the supporters of Muhammad and the adherents of polytheism from Mecca, during which some of the swords stored today in Topkapi were used.
However, the sword al-Kadyb (“Bar”, “Rod”) was never used in battles, such weapons were used by travelers and pilgrims on dangerous medieval roads. It has a narrow thin blade about a meter long. On one side of it, the Arabic inscription “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His prophet” is displayed in silver. Mohammed bin Abdallah bin Abd al-Mutallib." There is no indication in any historical source that this sword was used in any battle. It remained in the house of the Prophet Muhammad and was used later by the caliphs from the Fatimid dynasty. The tanned leather scabbard appears to have been restored in later eras.
In addition to this sword, Topkapi has several other blades that also belonged to Muhammad. Another of his swords is preserved today in the Hussein Mosque in Cairo.
Treasury Building
One of the oldest buildings of the third courtyard is the so-called Fatih Pavilion (Fatih Köshku), whose body stretched along the Sea of Marmara. Its building, also called Enderun Hazinesi (Treasury of the Inner Court), was built during the time of Sultan Mehmed II (circa 1460) and was among the first in the emerging structure of the new palace. It was conceived as a place to store the main treasures of the Sultan's treasury, which could leave the palace only on especially important occasions.
The building is crowned with two domes, cut through by small windows, and surrounded by a gallery, like many other Topkapı buildings. Apparently, according to the original plan of the first customer, Sultan Mehmed, the palace was planned as a summer residence, so the only purpose of the domes is
