wandersalone
Posts: 4666
Joined: 11/21/2005 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: sirrandpolyfam If you you would like to see it I will be glad to post it but so far most of you seem to think our writing is tedious at best. SR&MC that is possibly being a little kind quote:
ORIGINAL: sirrandpolyfam An odalisque was not a concubine of the harem, but it was possible that she could become one. Odalisques were ranked at the bottom of the social stratification of a harem, serving not the sultan, but rather, his concubines and wives as personal chambermaids. Odalisques were usually slaves given as gifts to the sultan. Generally, an odalisque was never seen by the sultan, but instead remained under the direct supervision of his mother, the Valide sultan. If an odalisque was of extraordinary beauty or had exceptional talents in dancing or singing, she would be trained as a possible concubine. If selected, an odalisque trained as a concubine would serve the sultan sexually, and only after such sexual contact would she change in status, becoming thenceforth a concubine. In the Ottoman Empire, concubines encountered the sultan only once—unless she was especially skilled in dance, singing, or the sexual arts, and thus gained his attention. If a concubine's contact with the sultan resulted in the birth of a son, she would become one of his wives. Later usageW.S. Gilbert refers to the 'Grace of an odalisque on a divan' in Colonel Calverley's song 'If you Want A Receipt For That Popular Mystery' from the Gilbert and Sullivan opera 'Patience'. In popular use, the word odalisque also may refer to a mistress, concubine or paramour of a wealthy man. During the 19th century, odalisques became common fantasy figures in the artistic movement known as Orientalism, being featured in many erotic paintings from that era. SR&MC I am surprised that given you mention being a writer a number of times that you didn't think to credit this to dear old Wiki. I would have thought that is standard practice and even if it is the slave writing whilst perched precariously why you did not hasten to correct them. I so am having to sit on my hands to prevent myself from typing anything more to avoid a gold bordered love tap
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Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King Godmother of the subbie mafia My all time favourite threads http://www.collarchat.com/fb.asp?m=2002501 http://www.collarchat.com/fb.asp?m=790885
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