Page 348 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent
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Glossary
aba heavy wool cloth; also used to identify çintemani design composed of a series of triple
a coat made from this fabric balls and double wavy lines, originally
Acem an Iranian, a non-Arab, a Shiite Turk symbolizing tiger stripes and leopard
residing in Iran (especially in spots
Azerbaijan), or a foreigner devsjrme tribute children recruited by the state
akçe silver coin used in the Ottoman from the non-Muslim provinces and
Empire; during Süleyman's reign, an educated in the palace, provincial
1
3
akçe weighed A of a dirhem (or /5 of courts, or armed forces to fill posts in
a gram) and contained 85 percent administrative and military ranks
silver dirhem silver coin generally used in pre-
Arz Odasi Reception Room in the third courtyard Ottoman times; also a measure of
of the Topkapi Palace where foreign weight equivalent to approximately
ambassadors were received and three grams
petitions submitted to the sultan divan upholstered benches placed along the
atlas monochrome compound-weave silk walls of a chamber; the word derives
fabric from the Divan-i Hümayun, the
members of which sat on such
bayram religious holiday couches
besmele phrase placed at the beginning of a Divan a collection of poems written by one
Koranic chapter, translated "In the author
name of God, the Merciful, the
Compassionate" Divan-i Hümayun Imperial Council of Ministers
Birun Outer Service of the palace institution, divani a style of cursive script, frequently
which included the artists and used in fermans
craftsmen whose facilities were located Ehl-i Hiref Society of the Talented; a special
in the first courtyard of the Topkapi group of artists, artisans, and
Palace craftsmen employed by the court.
bohça square fabric, generally embroidered, Provincial courts and the residences of
used to wrap clothing as well as gifts the princes also had their own Ehl-i
Hiref corps
celi large-format writing, frequently used
in architectural inscriptions Enderun Inner Service of the palace institution,
the members of which occupied the
cemaat society, as in Cemaat-i Nakka§an, third courtyard of the Topkapi Palace
Society of Painters and were trained to serve the state
chilin four-legged mythical creature used in entari inner kaftan
saz-style representations
ferman imperial edict with the tugra of the
cloud band decorative motif resembling a thin and sultan placed at the top, validating its
curving cloud contents
cloud collar crescent-shaped motif composed of grand vezir chief of the vezirs and the executive
cloudlike formations representative of the sultan in
cuerda seca Spanish term, meaning "dry cord," administrative and military affairs; the
applied to a technique of decorating highest rank attainable in the dev§irme
tiles in which a greasy material was system
placed between the glazes to prevent gubari minuscule format of writing,
them from running into one another; frequently used in small Korans
when the piece was fired, this material suspended from banners
burned off, leaving a dark outline
Hadis Traditions, or the record of sayings
cak§ir pants with attached socks worn under and deeds of the Prophet Muhammed
a kaftan as handed down by his companions;
çatma voided silk velvet woven with gold, study of the Traditions
gilded silver, and silver metallic hakkak gemstone carver; plural, hakkakin
threads
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