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Grande Odalisque painted by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1814)

An odalisque (Turkish: Odalık) was a female slave in an Ottoman seraglio. She was an assistant or apprentice to the concubines and wives, and she might rise in status to become one of them. Most odalisques were part of the Imperial Harem, that is, the household of the sultan.

Etymology [link]

The word "odalisque" is French in form and originates from the Turkish odalık, meaning "chambermaid", from oda, "chamber" or "room". It can also be transliterated odahlic, odalisk, and odaliq.

Status [link]

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 man of the household, but rather, his concubines and wives as personal chambermaids. Odalisques were usually slaves given as gifts to the sultan, bought or given by wealthy Turkish men. 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 usage [link]

Odalisque with a slave by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, painted in 1842

François Boucher, L'Odalisque c. 1749, Louvreg

Odalisque painted by Jules Joseph Lefebvre (1874)

W. 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.

In 2011 the Law Society of British Columbia brought a discipline hearing against an unnamed lawyer for referring to another lawyer's client as living with an odalisque. The Law Society found the use of the word, though an extremely poor choice, did not rise to the level of professional misconduct. ^[1]

See also [link]

• Culture of the Ottoman Empire
• Hammam
• Islam and slavery
• Köçek
• Ottoman Turkish language

Sources [link]

• The Imperial Harem by Leslie Pierce
• The Nature of the Early Ottoman State by Heath W Lowry

External links [link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Odalisques

• Some paintings of odalisques

References [link]