Topkapi Palace, Bâbüsselam Gate

In the depths of the "First Courtyard" (Birinci Avlu) we see a magnificent arched portal with two tall octagonal towers at the edges. These gates lead to the main palace and are named Bâbüsselam, which they try to interpret as "Gates of Peace", "Gates of Happiness", "Gates of Welcome" (apparently from the word selam). In fact, there is no literal translation of this name, but it is one of the symbols of the greatness of the Ottoman Empire. For simplicity, they are also often referred to as the "Middle Gate" (Orta Kapı). The gate was built in the second half of the 15th century, during the reign of Mehmed II the Conqueror. A century later, Suleiman the Magnificent decorated them with majestic towers, and in the 18th century, Mustafa III built a wide portico on the inner side. For all its monumentality, the gate did not perform defensive functions. It was the main sultan's gate and even the grand viziers could only pass through it on foot. In addition to the greatness of the Empire, the gates were a symbol of the sultan's firm hand - dignitaries who had fallen out of favor were kept in their side rooms and towers before execution, and sometimes sentences were executed here. The office of the chief gatekeeper, who was appointed from among the highest dignitaries, was also located here. Its function was to receive foreign ambassadors, here they were waiting to meet with the Sultan. The gatekeeper conducted preliminary conversations with the ambassadors and often solved the issues himself, saving the rulers from unnecessary anxiety.

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