Home
Welcome

Please select your city:


Username
Password
Remember
Click here to register
Forgot Password?
     


Between Members
Forums
Community billboard
Links

Member interviews
What about yours?
Paolo from Beşiktaş
Jennifer from Sultanahmet
Susanne from Fethiye
Patricia from Kartal
Pat from Yaniklar

From Members' Pen
Members' columns
Be a Correspondent
A Visit to Aya Yorgi and Heybeliada
Angelique´s Latest Trips
The Warm Heart of a Megapolis
Çiçekli Bahçe Motel
Angelique's Ankara
Advertisement Advertise here/Buraya reklam verin

Forums
Moving to Turkey
Relocation
Law & Legal
Health
Money affairs
Vehicles (Cars, boats, motocycles etc)
Communications, electronics, media
Children / Les enfants
Pets
Turkish Language
Tourism / Travel / Sightseeing
Educational Topics


e-coupons



Free newsletter

Your Name

Your Email

We will send regular newsletters to our members who have signed up for receiving it during the registration. In 'mymerhaba' newsletter, our editorial staff provides updates, with regard to any information related to places worth visiting, viewing, or otherwise worth knowing, for those who care to know more....

Hamam Rituals

 Untitled Document Long ago, a visit to Hamam was an elaborate affair, requiring planning and the help of servants. It was natural for a woman visiting a Hamam to bring with her a bundle of up to 20 different articles, which she would use during her visit. Let's see what sort of things she would have brought to the Hamam.

The peştemal, a large striped or checked towel fringed at both ends; usually a colored mixture of silk and cotton or pure coton or even pure silk; the woman would wrap herself in it, and it would cover her from armpit height to mid-thigh, worn as the woman made her way to kurna (the marble basin).

A pair of wooden clogs called nalın: exquisitely carved and embroidered most often with mother-of-pearl, or even sheathed in tooled silver; sometimes they had jingles, or a woven straw sheath, or vere appliquéd with felt or brass; clogs kept the wearer's feet clear of the wet floor.

The tas: metal bowl for pouring water over the body; it always had grooved and inlaid ornamentation whether made of silver, gilt or tinned copper, or of brass.

Soap, shampoo and other toiletries: these were carried in hand crafted copper or even gold plated boxes called tarak kutusu (translated to mean "comb boxes).

Soap case, made of metal, hand crafted copper or even gold plated, with a handle on top like a handbag, and perforated at the bottom to allow water to run out. Not only soap was placed in the case but also combs, both fine and broad-toothed, made of horn or ivory.

The kese: a coarse mitten carried in the soap case, it not only scoured the dirt out of the pores, but also served to deliver a bracing massage; it was specially woven out of hair or plant fibers.

A small "jewelry box": silver, copper or wood, sometimes covered with, wicker, felt, velvet or silver; as the woman would undress in the Hamam, she would remove her jewelry and place it in this box.

Towels: there were three towels for drying, one to go around the hair like a turban, one around the shoulders, and one around the waist.

The yaygı: a Hamam carpet; the carpet was laid on the floor with another cloth spread over top of it an the women would sit to undress; after each visit to the Hamam the spread would be washed and dried, then folded away in the bundle until the next time.

The ayna: a mirror its frame and handle often made of wood, but sometimes of silver or brass; the mirror was a wital item in the bundle.

A bowl of henna, called kına and considered to strengthen the hair besides adding rich beautiful color.

A very small container, made of tinned copper, and used to mash up an eyebrow darkener known as rastık, especially popular with those of fair and auburn hair.

Another box: this one for sürme, a kind of kohl for the eyelids.

A bottle of rose water: called gülsuyu. This bottle was kept in a wooden case, and inevitably found in the Hamam bundle; no other perfume was considered proper for the newly washed body.

While some of these are no longer used, they are widely available for purchase and are guaranteed to add pleasure to the Hamam experience.

Many Hamams were built during the Ottoman era, including forty by architect Sinan himself. Externally, they have a distinctive domed profile, with bottle glass directing beams of light inwards. Hamam traditionally consist of three areas:

Soyunmalık or Camekan, a court surrounded by small individual changing rooms; Soğukluk where visitors adjust to the heat; Sıcaklık or Hararet the hot and steamy marble bath where scrubbing and massage (somewhat resembling a one-sided wresting match) are performed.

A meter high marble platform Göbektaşı adorns the center of Hararet room. It is located just above the wood or coal furnaces heating the Hamam. The bather lies here for a vigorous massage, Kese that involves the removal with a coarse cloth mitten of a lifetime worth of dead skin. On leaving the Hamam, you may recover with a cold drink in the Camekan which nowadays serves as a café as well, or simply stretch out on the reclining couch in your private changing cubicle.

Despite the increase in household baths and showers, Hamams still thrive and many historical ones are still surviving...



Also See:
  • Enjoy the Hamam

  • Hamams in Istanbul

  • Hamam Rituals

  • Hamams in Ankara

  • Top 10 Hamams

  • Turkish Coffee

  • Traditions & Habits

  • Religious Colors

  • Islam in Turkey

  • Istanbul's Holy Places

  • Ankara's Holy Places

  • Famous Personalities

  • Legendary bazaars

  • Turkish Cuisine

  • Special Tastes

  • Hubble-bubble (Nargile)

  • Rakı and Meyhane

  • Hamam - Turkish Bath

  • Luck Games

  • A Little Turkish Fun

  • Would you like to add your comment about this article? Click here!


    Editor's Picks

    Best of Beaches According to research conducted by the daily Hürriyet Newspaper, the following beaches are the best ten in Turkey. more...

    Sünnet (Circumcision) The newcomers are mostly surprised when they see small boys walking on the streets with pompous dress. Summer is “circumcision season” more...

    Karagöz & Hacivat Karagöz and Hacivat is a Turkish shadow play taking its name from its main character Karagöz (Blackeye). more...

    Ankara Palas First Parliamentary Club, established at 1927, just across from the old National Assembly Building ... more...

    Basilica Cistern Just opposite of Haghia Sophia rests the Yerebatan Sarayı (Basilica Cistern). Probably the most visited cistern in the world, more...

    Miniaturk Mini Turkey Park, "Miniaturk", is at Sütlüce, on the banks of Haliç (The Golden Horn). more...


    Latest Articles
    Fred´s Weekend in Ankara
    Summer and Child Health
    The Guide Bodrum 2009
    A Visit to Aya Yorgi and Heybeliada
    Music Festival in İzmir
    Amendment to Turkish Citizenship Law
    The Mystic Tastes of East
    Pera Museum Exhibits
    Lisbon Memories from Another City
    Toy Museum on Tour






     

    Hamam - Turkish Bath
    Enjoy the Hamam
    Hamams in Istanbul
    Hamam Rituals
    Hamams in Ankara
    Top 10 Hamams

    Alla Turca
    Turkish Coffee
    Traditions & Habits
    Religious Colors
    Islam in Turkey
    Istanbul's Holy Places
    Ankara's Holy Places
    Famous Personalities
    Legendary bazaars
    Turkish Cuisine
    Special Tastes
    Hubble-bubble (Nargile)
    Rakı and Meyhane
    Hamam - Turkish Bath
    Luck Games
    A Little Turkish Fun




    Rhythm of Town

    Events calendar
    Istanbul Live
    This Weekend in Istanbul
    Ankara Live
    This Weekend in Ankara
    Social Clubs in Ankara
    Restaurants and Cafes in Istanbul
    Restaurants and Cafes in Ankara
    Sightseeing in Istanbul
    Sightseeing in Ankara
    Various Discoveries
    Best of...
    Art and Culture in Istanbul
    Art & Culture in Ankara
    For Kids - Istanbul
    For Kids - Ankara
    Hobbies Istanbul
    Hobbies Ankara
    Sports
    Biletix System
    Films on cnbc-e


    Turkeywide

    Blue Flag Beaches/Marinas 2009
    Toy Museum on Tour
    Aspendos Festival
    The Guide Bodrum 2009
    The Guide Ankara 2009
    Turkey's TOP 10s
    Summer-house
    Music Festival in İzmir
    What's on in Bursa
    İzmir Wild Life Park
    Ayvalık Music Academy
    Antalya State Opera and Ballet
    Izmir State Opera and Ballet
    Minibank Film Festival
    Registration of Canadians Abroad
    News From The Expat Harem
    Latest Amendments in Land Registry Law


    Events Calendar

    << Jul 2009 >>
    Su
    Mo
    Tu
    We
    Th
    Fr
    Sa
     1
     2
     3
     4
     5
     6
     7
     8
     9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31

    Shopping
    Shopping in Istanbul
    Shopping in Ankara
    Product showcase
    Shopping corner

    Weather

    Istanbul

    Ankara



    Advertising/Reklam
    Add "mymerhaba" to my favorites | make "mymerhaba" my homepage
    About "mymerhaba"
    | Thanks to | Contact Us | FAQ
    copyright "mymerhaba" All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
    This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 5 or greater with minimum 800*600 resolution

    powered by IDserv