History: Islamic Hamam (Structure)

The hamam developed into a quiet retreat--an atmosphere of half-light, quiescence and seclusion. Architecturally, vaulted ceilings shrank as the buildings became smaller and modest. While the Romans built enormous central baths, the Arabs preferred several small baths throughout their cities. They still followed a progression through a series of hot rooms as in the thermae, but with different emphasis.

In the hamam the Roman dwindled to a mere passageway leading from dressing room to hot room where, unlike the Roman caldarium, special massages were administered. While the Roman bather finished with a stay in the library or study, the hamam bather ends where he or she began, lounging on couches in the rest hall while servants bring drinks and cool the bather with fans.

The hypocaust heating systems remained, but in some regions Arabs followed the Roman example of utilizing heat from their many hot springs. These hamams, called kaplica or ilica, have no sweat platform in the center of the hottest room. Instead, a pool of natural hot water heats the hamam. Because the water bubbled and flowed, the Arabs could take a dip in those pools without bathing in their own filth.

Like the Roman baths, the hamam became a place to socialize. "Your town is only a perfect town when there is a bath in it," said Abu Sir, an early Arab historian. To promote the local hamam, entrance fees were so low everyone could enjoy them. "I leave it to the bather," said a caliph in A Thousand and One Nights, "to pay according to his rank."
 The baths were one of the few places in Islam open to everyone from early morning to late night, and sometimes longer.

Order and cleanliness were essential to the hamams, so certain customs, enforced by law, were established. The police inspector was given the task of seeing that the baths were washed frequently, which entailed scrubbing the stone surfaces with a hard instrument to remove dirt and slippery traces of soap. The inspector also checked the quality of the water. Aside from cleaning the place, the attendants burned incense twice a day for purification. The hamam was required to be fully prepared before dawn so people could bathe before Morning Prayer.