To keep bugs, spiders and even birds out of a Mosque in Turkey, they traditionally use an ostrich egg. It sounds almost too simple to be true, but maybe some of you might want to try this to keep mosquitos out of your back yard?
I was told that you take an ostrich egg and prick one small pin hole in it before you hang it up. The inside of the egg will slowly rot and send off a horrible odor that humans can not detect because our noses are not sensitive enough, but the bugs and spiders can not stand it and will stay away. One ostrich egg is enough for even the biggest Mosque, and I was told that it can last for 100 years.
A side effect in a room free of insects, is that birds are not attracted because they can not find food there. There are different reasons why birds are not welcomed in a building, and in a Mosque I guess it must be so that people don't get bird poop on their heads and also not get distracted when they pray.
Traditionally an ostrich egg hangs from the chandelier in the middle of the Mosque, but I haven't been able to go in person and confirm the story. As soon as I have a picture I will post it!
This story was told to me by a man who sells ceramic decorative balls and ornaments, which seem to be very popular item especially as a small souvenir.
"" so that people don't get bird poop on their heads and also not get distracted when they pray "" Bwahahahaha! It would surely kill the mood!! LOVE the tree at the end! Do they light it up at night or are those for sale!?!
ReplyDeleteAll the stuff hanging from this tree is for sale, but some of them are not eggs but tea light holders, and they would look very lovely hanging from a tree in your back yard.
ReplyDeleteOstrich eggs at the chandeliers of Süleymaniye Mosque İstanbul build by famous architect Mimar Sinan at the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT-e0u8JQOE
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