Armutalan Turkish Bath Marmaris
The need for cleansing has been one of the basic needs of all societies that have existed until today, starting with people from the early period. Societies that do not pay enough attention to this need often had to face epidemics or individual ill illnesses. In the course of history, mankind has applied many methods to meet this need. Baths are only one of these methods. Almost most nations have their own hamam architecture. It is also known that the baths have performed different functions in different communities, apart from the cleaning function. Turkish bath culture has started to develop mostly with the Ottoman State.
First Modern Bath Examples: Rome
Roman Empire; It is one of the most magnificent phases of western civilization. This magnificent state has the distinction of being the community where the first modern examples of baths are seen. However, the Roman bath was not in a structure consisting of a single building and serving only one purpose. There were separate entrance gates for nobles and separate entrance gates for slaves in the Roman Empire, where the class distinction was determined with strict lines. The Roman baths consisted of large complexes where some sports activities could be held and various entertainments could be organized outside the washing and cleaning area. The nobles held entertainments that lasted almost all day long. Slaves, on the other hand, were contented with meeting their cleaning needs rather than entertainment. Roman baths were also quite different architecturally, most of the bath structures were exposed. And there were no walls that completely covered it. Of course, baths are not structures that appeared with Rome. Before the Romans, there were structures that served as baths in Egypt, Indian and some Asian societies. What made Rome different was that its baths were more modern.
Baths in the Ottoman Empire
After the conquest of Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire met the concept of the bathhouse by seeing the baths left from the Romans. Of course, Muslims and Ottomans paid utmost importance to cleanliness in the previous period. However, they did not have such a complex to be called a bath. After the acquaintance with the bathhouse, the Ottoman created its own modern bath architecture. In addition, while the cities are being reconstructed, baths are located in every neighborhood as part of the city. Thus, the concept of Ottoman bath or Turkish bath emerged. The most distinctive feature of the Ottoman baths in terms of architecture is that they have domes as in mosques. The dome is one of the most important elements of Islamic architecture. In the Ottoman Empire, baths were kept open at any time of the day and they served with low prices for everyone. Before the feast, baths were provided free of charge for the cleaning of those who needed them on eve days and Friday mornings.
Turkish Bath Types
Today, although the concepts of hot springs and baths are seen separately from each other, the spas are also in the category of baths. There are two types of baths:
Natural Hot Water Baths: These baths are today called hot springs and built on natural hot water sources. No other method is used to heat the water in the bath. This bath type is generally used in the treatment of diseases. Spas, which are an important part of health tourism today, let alone lose value; it continues to exist with more value. Armutalan Turkish bath Marmaris baths are also examples of this bath type.
Artificial Heating Baths: In these types of baths, there is a boiler that is burned with a fire to both heat the bath and the water to be used in the bath. The heated water is passed through the baths through the pipes and the bath is heated. Also, hot water is given to the taps of the bath. These baths are one of the baths established in every neighborhood in the Ottoman Empire. Today, such baths are encountered in many parts of Anatolia.
Purposes of Baths
In addition to mandatory human needs such as baths, cleaning, they are used for different purposes. This emphasizes the social aspect of the baths. Especially in the Ottoman period, baths also operated as socializing areas. On certain days of the week, women gathered in baths and organized a musical with an instrument. For the Ottoman woman, whose social area was quite narrow, baths were one of the rare areas where they could socialize. In addition, baths with girls who are in marriage age; It was one of the meeting and meeting points of mothers looking for a wife. Although it is perceived as negative in our day, it was a customary tradition to choose the mothers’ brides among the girls in the baths. Finally, the health purpose of the bath.