The History and Evolution of the Taximen, a Horse-Drawn Carriage of the Ottoman Empire

Taximen (also spelled taksir or tacsim) is a type of horse-drawn carriage that was commonly used in the Ottoman Empire and other parts of the Middle East during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a two-wheeled vehicle with a bench seat and a canopy top, and was drawn by one or two horses. The taximen was used for short journeys within cities, such as transporting passengers between different neighborhoods or to and from public buildings like mosques and government offices.

In modern Turkish, the word "taximen" is still used to refer to a horse-drawn carriage, but it has also come to be used metaphorically to describe any type of old-fashioned or outdated vehicle or mode of transportation. For example, someone might say "this car is like a taximen" to indicate that it is outdated and not as modern or efficient as newer vehicles.