Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures

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Space: Ḥammām: Overview
(2,278 words)

Architectural development

The ḥammām , or Middle Eastern public bath, is predominantly an urban phenomenon. In rural areas, public baths are smaller and less elaborate buildings and not every village has one. The ḥammām evolved from Roman baths. Like these, it consists of at least four rooms: al-maslakh, the entrance and changing room; the bārid, the usually unheated first bathing room; the wastānī, a moderately heated seco…

Cite this page
Buitelaar, Marjo, “Space: Ḥammām: Overview”, in: Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures, General Editor Suad Joseph. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1872-5309_ewic_EWICCOM_0282>
First published online: 2009



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