Column of Archers - Ok-Meydan
The Ottoman Emperors, with their court, often enjoyed the diversion of Archery in public and there is an extensive piece of ground allotted to that purpose. This place is upon an eminence in the suburbs of the City of Istanbul, and it commands an extensive view of the town and the harbour. It is called Ok-Meydan, or the Place of the Arrow. The ground is covered with marble pillars (such as the one pictured) erected in honour of those archers who have succeeded in shooting arrows to any remarkable distance. Each pillar is inscribed with the name of the person whose dexterity it records, together with some complimentary verses to him, and the exact range which he obtained with his flight arrow. The Ottoman Emperors from ancient times have been always supposed to live by their manual labour, in consequence of this suposition they have each learnt some art or profession, most of them having prefered the art of making bows and arrows. One Emperor was a bound apprentice to the trade of Archery, and at the time he was received as a master in this trade, he gave on different occasions very splendid public entertainments at the Ok-Meydan where the state tents were pitched for him and his court
