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theMasterMinD
Turkey
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It has been found that Sultan Abdulhamid the Second, the emperor of the Ottomans between 1876 and 1908, presented a ‘robot’ to Japan in 1889.
Abilities of this robot which was called ‘Alamet’ and built in a human shape, were to move its arms towards the sky, to walk half a meter and to recite the call to prayer.
It has been understood that the famous sultan of the last years of the empire had presented a robot in 1889 to Japan, the leading country in technology nowadays. Shaped like a human, Alamet had some surprising abilities. The original photos of Alamet found in researcher and writer Oktan Keleş’s archive were damaged seriously in the fire in Yıldız Palace. But anyway, even the remains of those photos are enough to tell this shocking event enlightened after 120 years.
Prayer Call instead of Gong
The interesting event starts with Prince Komatsu’s arrival with some presents to Sultan in Istanbul, who was the nephew of Meji, the Japan Emperor. After he was welcomed in Sultan’s Palace, the Japan Emperor sends a letter to Sultan in 1889 with various presents, including a valuable one, the big Crizanthem Medal, with his embassadors. Meji, in his letter, asks for information regarding Islam, science and technological advancements and pious foundations, in Japanese or French, to be sent to himself in reply.
So, Sultan Abdulhamid requests the building of a never made before, unique and technological clock from a well-known craftsman called ‘Father Musa’ who was also good at understanding the mechanism of clocks. When asked, he speaks his idea and says “Let’s build it in a shape of a ‘Semazen’(a prayer dressed in white and prays with his arms aside and while turning, in remembrance of Mevlana, a religious leader) He’ll open his arms into the sky and make a ‘gong’ every hour.” Sultan considers the project and orders the builder to make him recite the call to prayer, instead of gonging. Writer Oktan Keleş tells that it was then possible to record sounds with the gramophone invented shortly before the event.
Alamet Confused with the term “alamet”
Keleş informs that Alamet which had been sent to Japan with Ertuğrul Frigate (a small ship) was not heard before because of the usage of some words which were synonyms, and says that “The event was recorded like ‘Ottoman ‘nişan’s (medals), with presents, were presented to Japan Emperor.’ in Ottoman archives. The Ottoman word ‘nişan’ and the name of the robot ‘Alamet’ were synonyms, that’s why the ‘Alamet’ which was a robot, had gone ignored for years.”
Sultan Abdulhamid sent the robot which was maybe the invention of the century to Japan Emperor in Ertuğrul Frigate, with a letter, various presents and medals. But unfortunately the frigate sank while returning, with its 450-men crew.
The Invention 120 Years Ago
Keleş tells about the invention : “Shaped as a prayer, almost tall as a human, a robot with a clock. Its body standing on a base, opens his arms in the air every hour and starts to tell the call to prayer, while his silver plate skirt opens at the same time. While doing all these, it walks about half a meter while turning, then walks back to its former place when the call ends; then it moves its skirt and arms down. The robot was completely built of silver and gold covering. It also had a place to be set up at its back, and it was set up with a handle once seven days.”
Some pictures of it; 
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