In the center of Istanbul, the 13-year restoration of the 500-year-old architectural monument - the Hamam Zireek Celali - has been completed. According to museum representatives, such internal luxurious design is rarely encountered anywhere else. Most of the tiles of this hamam suffered from fires, earthquakes, or were sold to European antiquarians in the 19th century, yet some of them are still visible.
The restoration also uncovered many Byzantine water reservoirs underneath the hamam. As noted by Tanyel, "it is believed that here the architect Sinan constructed a hamam on this foundation to use it as a basis and a source of water." In ancient Rome, the culture of bathing was very important, and as the archaeologist Tali pointed out, "it was customary for traders to bathe before entering the city, especially in baths near the gates."
During the era of the Ottoman Empire, bathing became a symbol of purity of body and soul, not forgetting the importance of washing in Islam, and it was also used to celebrate events such as birthdays and weddings. According to Tali, "baths became not only places for bathing but also for socializing, relaxing, and rejuvenating, and also for celebrating important events in life."
Hamams were an inseparable part of Ottoman society, and while most of them ceased to be used after the advent of running water, in Turkey they are restoring a number of hamams to revive the ancient tradition of bathing. Hamams often appeared in old Turkish films, where they were depicted as free spaces where women socialized, shared food and drinks, or even danced.
Last year, the Hamam Zireek Celali, which is 500 years old and built during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent under the guidance of the famous Ottoman architect Sinan, reopened after a lengthy 13-year restoration. Besides the hamam, a museum was also opened on the premises, narrating its history and Ottoman bathing customs.
The director of the museum, Beril Gür Tanyel, stated: "The restoration to some extent turned into archaeological excavations," presenting a deep insight into the external view of the hamam in the past. And she added: "Around 3000 discarded pieces of tiles were discovered, helping to solve the riddle of the name of this hamam (Celali), which translates to 'covered with tiles.' The beautiful Iznik tile, laid on the walls, was produced exclusively for this hamam.
