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Turkish bath/hamam
The Turkish bath or hamam is a bathing procedure that is a highly communal
and social experience. The tradition of the Turkish bath can be traced back
to when the Turks arrived in Anatolia where they were confronted with the bathing
traditions of the Romans and the Byzantines. Merging their bathing traditions
of steam baths or Manchu with the Roman and Byzantine harem bathing culture,
the Turkish bath or hamam was developed. Considering the importance that is
placed on cleanliness in Muslim culture, the Turkish bath became an important
social center that was associated with a variety of ceremonies.
The Hamam is a distinctively domed structure that contained bottle glass, which
directed beams of light inwards. Consisting of a variety of steam rooms with
increasing elevated temperature, the Hamam was an important component of Turkish
culture and life. During the Ottoman era, the construction of hamams multiplied.
Traditionally, built as part of a charitable foundation (vakif), the hamam emphasized
interior appearance over exterior appearance. Double Turkish baths were also
constructed that had separate male and female sections. Single Turkish baths
were open to both men and women, although never at the same time.
A hamam consists of a series of rooms that have different functions. Upon
entering a hamam, the first room you find yourself in is the camekan. The camekan
is a square courtyard that consists of individual changing cubicles that surround
an ornamental marble fountain. From there, you enter the sogukluk, which is
a small, cooling off section. This room opens into the hararet, which is the
main component of the hamam structure. The hararet is a domed room that is shaped
either octagonal or square. At the center of the room is a heated marble platform
known as the naval stone. The floor of the hararet usually consists of elaborately
crafted and ornately designed tiles. While lying on the naval stone, you will
receive a body scrub followed by a massage. After all of this treatment, you
will then go to a cold room and then take a cold shower.
For women, the hamam was not simply a place for bathing but also a center where
they received facial, hair, and body care through herbal treatments. For Turks,
the hamam also served as an important social center. Mingling of people regardless
of age, social rank, and income was unregulated in the hamam. Additionally,
the hamam served as the setting for a variety of important ceremonies that includes:
a newborn’s fortieth day, a child’s circumcision, the pre-wedding bathing, and
the ceremony of mourning. The hamam also served as the traditional setting for
women to identify suitable wives for their sons.
Although the daily use of Turkish bath has lost popularity in Turkey, there
are still hamams located throughout the country. Additionally, Turkish baths
have been constructed outside of the country to replicate the luxurious experience
of hamam use. If you are looking for an experience that will lead to a mental
and bodily cleansing, it is highly recommended that you visit a Turkish bath.
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