türkçe links to original Turkish article
(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 September 2020)
The Sultans' secret getaway ramp, with the 'Adalet
Kulesi' in the background.
One of Topkapı Palace's long-shuttered sections has been opened to
the public - the "Büyük Biniş" (great boarding), and later known as
"At Rampası" (horse ramp) - was used by Sultans to secretly ride
out of the palace and mix with the public.
The ramp is at the base of the Adalet Kulesi (justice tower), one of
the palace's most prominent elements. Sultans would sneak out of
the palace for "tebdil-i kıyafet" - changing into 'street clothes' to mix
with the people or otherwise conduct inspections. Additionally,
when the Sultan wanted to visit the 'kubbealtı' (palace apartments),
where the 'Divan-ı Hümayun' (Imperial Chancery of State) would
meet, he could use this path.
Art historian and museum expert Dr. Deniz Esemenli explained that
"this was a place where only the Sultan could ride, to leave the palace
unobserved and get a first-hand feel for his citizens' situation by
mixing in with them in the garb of the day."
Which one's the Sultan??
Historian Necdet Sakaoğlu noted that "the Sultans loved to tour
Istanbul and inspect the city at the same time. That's why they did
it in secret, necessitating the Sultan's unnoticed departure from the
palace via this secret ramp."
"He would generally dress like a dervish or a merchant and his
guards would wait at the end of his tour, in a pre-arranged fashion.
The person in charge of the ramp was the "biniş hasekisi" (Sultan's
bodyguard team sergeant at arms)."
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