Fans who have watched the series "Magnificent Century" imagine the harem as a place filled with endless extravagance and luxurious feasts. According to them, women spent their days sitting around tables adorned with sweets, enjoying all the delightful dishes and treats. However, the true pages of history differ completely from this depiction.
In reality, the menus in the harem of the Ottoman sultans resembled more the military rations designated for imperial soldiers. The scenes in the series showing Hurrem indulging in various sweets, including Turkish delight, were far from reality.
What did the concubines in the harem eat?
Historical sources indicate that the main food supply in the harem was very limited and strictly controlled. Concubines were served no more than 250 grams of food at a time. They were not allowed more than two meals a day, and no additional snacks were permitted. Only to prevent dizziness from hunger, they were allowed to drink one or two sips of thick sweet juice a day, nothing more.
The strict regulations of the Ottomans were not due to stinginess. They were well aware that the physical inactivity of hundreds of women in the harem, along with excessive food and sweet consumption, would lead to obesity. Therefore, the dining in the harem was under strict supervision. Of course, women who were slightly fuller were considered beautiful in that era, but this should never have crossed the line.
Did all the women in the harem eat the same food?
No, there was a certain hierarchy in the harem as well. The dining order was determined by a woman's position in the harem. Ordinary concubines were content with the simplest and least varied dishes, while women from the sultan's close circle were provided with more delicious and diverse foods.
The halva, Turkish delight, and various sweets that frequently appeared in the series were only placed on the table for most women in the harem during festive days. Women who won the sultan's favor could receive special attention, and special menus were prepared for them for two or three days. This is because the Ottomans believed that good and plentiful meals increased the chances of pregnancy. For pregnant concubines, two or three additional dishes were also included in the menu.
Thus, the perceptions of harem life and menus that fans have seen and imagined in the series often do not correspond to historical reality. The real Ottoman harem was a place that was much stricter, more disciplined, and even had harsh conditions in some aspects than what is portrayed in the series.
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