Do you love me?
Panagiotis's parents were killed by Osman.
And Panagiotis was in love with him. Dirty faced, scrawny and shaggy haired our fair young hero was dressed in a long burgundy tunic. With creme yellow gold embroidery in the center. With a baby blue robe and a frayed belt. With sandal straps that had been broken and retired to remain on his feet. He had no other clothes. He would often wear eyeliner. And coral- plum red lip paint on his lips.
Osman enjoyed or seemed to have been fond of Panagiotis's expression of feminity.
Panagiotis would entertain Osman with stories, poems, and music, and sexual favors.
He deemed it his duty to provide such delights. Although, Osman had killed his parents, Panagiotis would be so attached to Osman. Perhaps he never knew??? Perhaps he was too young to know??? Was he pleased by their death???? But; nonetheless, he was grateful to in Osman's presence. One sweltering evening, near midnight, a violent storm broke over the city where Panagiotis lived. Lightning and thunder filled the musky inky sky. Constantinople had never seen rain like that before. It fell from the sky like darts and hissing snakes. The rivers, beaches, and lakes were overflowed with water. Water that Panagiotis was thirsty to drink.
Panagiotis would often go hungry and thirtsy,
living with Osman's wide. Osmans wife's name was Mariam. She was a cold shrew of a woman, who had a dead tooth in the center of her front teeth and smile. It was very distracting to carry on a conversation with her. All you would notice is that tooth staring back at you. She was very cruel to Panagiotis.
She would often call him an unfit animal and told him he was replaceable. So, I imagine you could assume Panagiotis feelings for Miriam were just as cold. But it was more likely indifference towards her; that would also
infuriate Mariam.
The Ottoman empire was founded, c 1299
by Osman the First, as a small beylik in Northwestern Asia Minor just south of the
Byzantine capital Constantinople. In 1326,
The Ottomans captured nearby Bursa, cutting
off Asia Minor from Byzantine control. As Sultan Mehmed the Second conquered Constantinople in 1453 transforming it into the new Ottoman capital. Most of the Balkans
we're under Ottoman rule by the Mid 16th Century. Arabia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Levant, were among territories within decades. Much of the North African coast except Morocco became part of the Ottoman realm. The empire reaches its maximum territorial extent
in 1699 and onwards, the Ottoman empire began to lose territory over the next centuries.
The empire came to an end in the aftermath of its defeat in World War 1. Through out its more than 600 years of existence the Ottoman empire has left a legacy in the Middle East and Southeast Europe , as can be seen in the customs and cuisines of various
that were once in its realm.
Now, back to Panagiotis. Who was referred to as "Banagiotis". There is no p sound in the Islamic alphabet. However he did no know his name was with a pen and the p sound.
Everyone would call him Banagiotis. He would soon discover he was of Hellenic heritage.
That is where his name comes from Panagia.
All Holy. It has an earthy and ethereal quality.
For He is named after the Theotokos. The virgin mother, Mary. And his name was passed down to him by his grandfather, who was a shepard. He still didn't know about his parents, or his language or Greek customs.
Mariam one day told Panagiotis that Osman had killed them. He began to cry and he shouted to her, "For you will see what happens to you with all of your lies."
Mariam told him, "I told you the truth."
Panagiotis responded, " I am Osman's wife!"
"You are our unruly daughter. For I have given birth to you and this is how you treat me.
If I had only known." He said, willfully.
"You have been only a slave most your life!"
"He loves me," Mariam said. "One day you will see the light." "It maybe too late for you."
So, as anyone would expect Panagiotis was too frightened to ask Osman. But after having sex. He asked him, "Do you love me?"
Osman said nothing and rolled over.
He then asked, "Did you kill my parents?"
He said nothing again. And Panagiotis knew his answer. He ran away one evening to far off cave. He noticed etchings and words he couldn't make out on the walls. But, nonetheless; there he still took refuge.
Then as he slept in comes inside an older man named Xavier. In his language; his name, was Harris. He was a teacher. He used that cave to teach pupils Greek language and customs. And the Greek Orthodox Christian faith. It seems Panagiotis had a lot to learn from Xavier. They soon became friends.
And Panagiotis would become an eager student. Xavier noticed the bruises on Panagiotis arms and legs and asked him if he was alright. But Panagiotis didn't complain.
He was glad to be free. All he ever wanted was love. He had no pride ever before. But, now; he does for the Hellennes.
Upon discovering Panagiotis was gone.
Osman simply said he will find another slave boy. Osman was that type of man - cold, insensitive and an ass. Donkeys don't care about anything. Horses are much smarter. So, that's why I call him an ass. A jack ass. And Mariam knew this as well. She took matters into her own hands. She took on Panagiotis's duties. Osman became furious with her.
He was screaming and shouting at Mariam.
Mariam wasn't the type of woman to do chores, but she did them well. And she never complained. She just said, " I'm glad to be rid of the boy." Osman would nod his head in agreement. He dare not argue. But perhaps he was ambivalent; as well. The boy would find things to be fascinated by apart from them.
He would learn his language and religion. And he would help Xavier teach in the cave.
To be a male slave was not unheard of in this time. Nor was the act of homosexuality.
But Panagiotis wasn't hoping to find men to
pass the time. His relationship with Xavier was like that of student and teacher; then brothers. He also noticed that the turks and Greek people would cook in a similar fashion.
They would use similar ingredients, too.
The Greek people would teach their customs and etc to preserve Greek life. Greek thought.
Greek hope. Then one day a young child by the age of seven, named Eleni, came to study and hide from the Ottoman turks. She was pulled and grabbed, and as they were taking off her rags of clothing; she said, "I belong to Jesus Christ." "I will never give myself to you!"
My body belongs to Jesus. And finally Panagiotis understood what it was like for himself. His parents. Xavier. Everyone.
So he intervened. He came to the girl's defense. Then the Ottoman turk took out his blade and cut Panagiotis's head off. The turk ran off. The blood was everywhere. Xavier rushed to comfort Eleni. Eight years later they were married. At the time Greeks were still slaves to the turks. For about four hundred years. Many moons afterwards.... an archeologist descendents of Xavier's and Eleni's discovered the cave with all the different teachings on the walls and floor and ceiling and Panagiotis skull. They found dead flowers weaved throughout his skull.
The End.