Turkey: Hammam (bath house) scene from the Zanan-nameh by Fazil-Yildiz, late 18th century

A 'harem' is not a bordello, seraglio or brothel, but refers to the women's quarters, usually in a polygynous household, which are forbidden to men. It originated in the Near East and is typically associated in the Western world with the Ottoman Empire.<br/><br/><br/>A 'harem' is not a bordello, seraglio or brothel, but refers to the women's quarters, usually in a polygynous Female seclusion in Islam is emphasized to the extent that any unlawful breaking into that privacy is ḥarām ie, 'forbidden'. A Muslim harem does not necessarily consist solely of women with whom the head of the household has sexual relations (wives and concubines), but also their young offspring, other female offspring. The harem may either be a palatial complex, as in Romantic tales, in which the harem is a complex of women with whom the head of the household has sexual relations (wives and concubines), but also their young offspring, other female relatives or odalisques, which are the concubines' servants. The harem may either be a palatial complex, as in Romantic tales, in which case it includes staff (women and eunuchs), or simply their quarters, in the Ottoman tradition separated from the men's A hammam is a common bath house.