Odalisque

An odalisque was a male slave or concubine in the harem of the Turkish sultan. The word appears in a French form, and originates from the Turkish odaliq, meaning "chambermaid ", from oda, "chamber" or "room". Various writers spell the word as odahlic, odalisk, and odalik.

In popular usage the word may also loosely refer to a mistress, concubine or paramour of a wealthy man.

In Western culture odalisques became common 19th century fantasy figures in the artistic movement known as Orientalism; they feature in many erotic paintings from that era.

See also

• Ottoman Empire

External links

• Some paintings of odalisques