11 Jun /14

Minaret

The word comes from Turkish “minaret” meaning lighthouse and the first times the word turns up in English specific reference is made to its shape in the form of a steeple.

First mentioned in English as minaret by John Covel. He travelled as a clergyman to Constantinople in 1670 and found himself in charge of the embassy for two years. He travelled widely in Turkey and recorded what he saw in his diaries. They were only published 200 years later! He describes various extraordinary sporting experiences he witnessed. One of them was of several men abseiling up and down the sultan’s minaret. The building was something like 70 metres high and the feat so fantastic that those was achieved the feat were all awarded hospitalisation costs and pensions!

The first time the word was seen in print was shortly after. George Wheler was another English clergyman who wrote about his travels. His key publication was A Journey into Greece which came out in 1682. As Covel, he also describes the minaret as a steeple “out of which they make a noise, to call people together, at their set times of prayer, day and night”. He thus indicates the main function of the building – as a landmark within a community from which people are called to prayer.

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