The history of the eunuchs in the Ottoman Empire's harem is as fascinating as it is heartbreaking ๐.
The history of the eunuchs in the Ottoman Empire's harem is as fascinating as it is heartbreaking ๐. Here's some surprising info on where they were brought from and how they were castrated:๐ฑ Where were the eunuchs brought from? There were mainly two types of eunuchs in the Ottoman palace, sourced from different regions:⭐ White Eunuchs: Mostly from the Balkans (Hungary, Greece, Slavic countries) and the Caucasus region (Georgia, Circassia). Often, they were either young boys captured in wars or slaves given as gifts. Black Eunuchs: Primarily from East Africa (present-day Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Nile basin). They'd be brought via the Red Sea to Cairo, Egypt, and then sent to Istanbul's palace.๐ The Castration Process Castration was prohibited under Islamic law, so the Ottomans usually had it done outside their territory, often by non-Muslims. The process was brutal:⭐ Surgical method: Some had only their testicles removed (castration), while others had their entire gen...