The word Hammam is of Arabic origin and means being warm. Throughout the years, there have been different forms of Hammam. Especially in the Ottoman period, these baths were given great importance. In addition to building many public baths, people also built small baths in their houses and mansions.
Nowadays Turkish bath is no longer a public service that is commonly used by the citizens but rather a special activity performed by tourists or those who want to experience this ritual occasionally. Many hotels and spa centers in Turkey include a section in which bath and traditional massage services are given.
To give a brief history of ancient and traditional baths, we must start by saying that it is based on the Roman Empire although it is mostly associated with Turkish culture. As people did not have sufficient bathing facilities in their houses in the Ottoman era, going to these public baths was a vital necessity. This common activity was also a way to socialize; for instance, women were meeting in hammam once a week and they were eating and having fun there together.
The beauty of women in the Ottoman era is associated with Turkish baths. These places are always hot and humid. As a result, not only muscles are relaxed and the body rests but also it helps to open the pores and get rid of dead skin. When people went to a hammam, the bath attendant would rub and massage them. These people were named ‘tellak’. Although this tradition still exists, the service-giver is often called massagist instead of tellak.
In Turkish baths, there are three sections for dressing, washing, and heating. The main section is where people bathe, clean, and rest. This washing section also has internal parts: Where people wash is called ‘kurna’, where people wash alone is called ‘halvet’, and the central humid steam chamber is called ‘göbektaşı’. Thanks to the heating system, both the water and the bath constantly remain hot.
To answer the question of what a hammam is, we should also mention the rituals. The main ritual is to clean a person from head to toe. There are different styles in hammams: you might prefer to bring your own equipment and bathe yourself or you can get a variety of services in the other styles. Self-service is the cheapest one in which you only pay for the entrance. In traditional style, you are provided with the equipment, and you get a massage for about 15 minutes. Other styles are charged depending on the service you get: oil massage, reflexology, clay masks, foam massage, etc.
Change your clothes, wrap your body with peştemal, enter the hot room. When your skin gets soft enough, go to göbektaşı: tellak will rub your skin there using a kessa glove. After peeling, the bath attendant will remove dead skins with water and then massage you with a pouch. Thanks to the traditional massage, you will feel much more relaxed than before.
Watch out for the slippery slope!