Okmeydanı being made ready for the festivities
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 11a  | 
 
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 10b  | 
In this scene we see
Okmeydanı, where the festival and its events are to be held, with the imperial pavilion, the pavilions and tents of the grand vizier and other dignitaries and members of court, the masts from which strings of lanterns will be suspended to provide illumination at night, a tall mast on the summit of which a vessel full of coins will be set as a competition prize, tightropes for acrobats, a galley that moves on the land, a circular house set on a wheeled cart, and two sailing ships set on parallel cables that will engage in a mock battle.The building in the upper left corner of (10b) is
Atıcılar Tekkesi, in which the sultan’s womenfolk will take up residence during the festival. The huge complex of tents cut off by the right edge of the frame is the otağ-ı hümayun–the imperial pavilion–surrounded by its screen of draperies called a zokak. The single-poled tent with the extended awning, zigzag patterned fabric, golden fringe, and golden finial is for the sultan. The pattern, fringe, and finial are repeated in the bigger three-poled tent behind it, which is where the Imperial Council will meet. The smaller double-poled tent of plain green fabric behind it will be used for feasts. Scattered about are single and double-poled tents that are to be occupied by the sultan’s guests and by servants and functionaries. To the left of the entrance is an observation tower surmounted by a broad-eaved dome from which the sultan will observe the proceedings outside. Occupying the lower half of the frame outside the enclosure is the space where the performances and other festival events will be held. At the far right of this space there are seven tall masts standing in a row (the artist had a serious problem with perspective here) from which great strings of lanterns are suspended. Extending in the same direction and forming a right angle away from these masts is a series of tightropes on which two acrobats are shown practicing. The tents at the bottom of the scene are the tents for the viziers, erected on a rather high hill to the right of the road leading to Kağıthane. According to Vehbi, tents for the Janissary commander and his troops were set up on a high place known as the "Encampment of the Aghas" near the viziers’ tents.The big three-poled tent in (11a) with its awning extended and surrounded by a fabric screen of red and green is for the grand vizier. This tent is located to the right of the imperial pavilion and immediately to its right are the tent of the grand vizier’s steward Mehmed Agha and the tents of his subordinates followed by the tents of the chief of the Exchequer, the chief secretary, the chief sergeant-at-arms, the scribes, and the head of the Chancery. In the lower left corner are the tents of the Artillerymen’s corps pitched on a hill. The thirty cannons arrayed before them will be fired three times each day during the festival. The white fortress on wheels is a mockup that will be used by the corps as part of its performance during the festival. Near the right edge of the frame is a tall, slippery pole that competitors will attempt to climb during the festival. Another line of five masts supporting strings of lanterns provides nighttime illumination on this side of the festival-ground.
Notes
1. Okmeydanı:
"The Field of the Arrow". An area on the northern side of the Golden Horn that was used as a field for archery practice and contests in Ottoman times.2. Atıcılar Tekkesi: Archers Lodge". The headquarters of the Archers guild.
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