Odalisque.

An odalisque was a female slave in the harem of the Ottoman Empire. She was an assistant or apprentice to the concubines and wives of the sultan, and afterwards get to get that state, ie be concubine, or, with luck, wife.

An odalisque was not a concubine of the harem , but could become so. The odalisques were classified in the bottom of the social stratification of the harem, ie not served the man of the house , but rather , his concubines and wives as personal servants. The concubines were often gifts to the Sultan, or a rich man ( Pasha ) . Usually concubines were kept under the direct supervision of the mother of the Sultan ( the Sultan Valide ) . If an odalisque possessed extraordinary beauty or had exceptional talents in dancing or singing, a chance to be a concubine . If she was selected , an odalisque trained as a concubine of the Sultan , sexually serve , and only after sexual contact , change their status becoming a concubine. In the Ottoman Empire , concubines encountered the sultan only once, unless they were especially skilled in dance , singing , or the sexual arts , gaining the attention of the sultan. If a concubine , by having sex with the Sultan , became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and this was acknowledged by the Sultan , automatically became one of his wives .