Turkish bath

The origin of Turkish baths goes back to the time when the Turks came to Anatolia and it was there that they could get acquainted with Roman and Byzantine bathing culture. They combined this tradition with their own customs and thus the Turkish bath, as it was originally called, the HAMMAM was born. The meaning of the Turkish word is ’to radiate heat ’. These baths were built as part of large building complexes and funding usually came from the donations of people. In addition to baths, mosques, schools, hospitals were also part of this building complex. Occasionally, baths were opened in separate buildings. .

Hammams were used by both men an women but they used them either at different times or men and women used different rooms for bathing purposes.

Since hammams were used by both sexes and all age groups, they soon became an organic part of Turkish culture. Religious rituals were also part of bathing culture, thus the hammam was the place where circumcisions, wedding or occasionally funeral ceremonies also took place. It was also in these baths that beauty care was taught.

The beneficial effect of the Turkish bath is based on high temperature and high concentration of humidity; both factors caused intensive perspiration. Turkish baths relaxed both body and mind. Soapy massage and scrubbing helped to free the skin from the dead skin cells, circulation speeded up and the muscles got relaxed.