Turkish Hamam: A Timeless Guide to the World of Traditional Baths and Cultural Splendor

The “Hamam”, an essential element of the Mediterranean civilization, is a vital institution following the “Roman Bath,” deeply rooted in Seljuk and Ottoman traditions as the “Turkish Bath”. Derived from the Arabic word ‘hamma,’ meaning heating, a hamam is essentially a steam bath. These baths, equipped with the Roman underground heating system, evolved under the Islamic architectural influence and social life, particularly through the endowment system. Cleanliness, a fundamental requirement in Islam, led to the development of a unique bath culture and architecture, beginning from the Umayyad palaces across various Islamic societies.

In Istanbul, during the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, baths served multiple purposes, including cleanliness, health, entertainment, and other functions. At the beginning of the 5th century, during the Byzantine era, there were nine major baths and one hundred and fifty-three smaller privately-owned baths in Istanbul. In the 17th and 18th centuries, during the Ottoman era, approximately 150 to 180 baths in Istanbul served thousands of customers daily, creating significant employment opportunities. By the mid-18th century, the number of male attendants and bath workers had reached 2,400. Additionally, the bath industry encompassed managers, furnace workers, female attendants, manufacturers, and sellers of necessary items such as bath wraps, bath mitts, soap, wooden clogs, bowls, and barbers.

The rich hamam culture is not only about washing and purification, taking ablutions, and healing but also continues to uphold significant traditions. In the “Bridal Bath” tradition, the bride-to-be, dressed in embroidered bath wraps and silver clogs, would welcome guests in the cooler part of the hamam, offering various foods and drinks. In the warmer area, friends would joyfully bathe the bride amid songs, praises, prayers, and games. Depending on the family’s status, the bride was bathed with water poured from gold or silver bowls. Moreover, a tradition for mothers to find suitable brides for their sons also took place in hamams. Over time, the hamam has become one of the finest environments for socializing, entertainment, and fostering human health and leisure.