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Hamam – The Turkish Bath |
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One of the truly unmissable experiences of a
trip to Turkey is a visit to the hamam. Like the harem, this Roman
and Byzantine tradition was adopted and then perfected by the Selcuk
Turks, for whom the public bath took on an important role. It was
not merely a place where believers could fulfill the Islamic precept
of cleanliness. It was a place in which to mingle, socialize and
gossip. Women would proceed from their harem to the hamam with great
ceremony, accompanied by servants heavily-laden with delicacies to
tide the ladies over the hours they would spend lounging in the
steam. The young women used this opportunity to show off their
ornately embroidered towels and ivory inlaid slippers, not to
mention their youthful figures, while older women would spot
potential wives for their sons. Men would discuss the latest court
scandal or talk business and politics. Contrary to popular ideas,
hamams have always been either permanently designated for one of the
sexes, or have a separate schedule for men and women.
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