Turkish academic discusses Hurrem Sultan Hamam, Ottoman water civilization

Hurrem Sultan (also known as Roxelana), the wife of Sultan Suleiman I, was a palace woman who, contrary to today’s perception, patronized charitable works such as mosques, madrasas, schools, and baths across a wide geographical area, from Istanbul to Jerusalem and from Edirne to Hijaz. The Cifte Hamam, or Haseki Sultan Hamam, built by Mimar Sinan (chief Ottoman architect) next to the Hagia Sophia Mosque in the 16th century, attracted attention with its unique architecture and special location. Despite functioning as an elegant bath today, the building faced many challenges in surviving until the present.

Art historian Professor Nurhan Atasoy discussed this elegant space, which was near her childhood home, and the water culture of the Ottoman Empire in her book titled Hamam. Published by Masa Yayinlari, the book was brought to readers with the support of Hurrem Sultan Hamam.

Hurrem Sultan, number one

In an interview with Türkiye Gazetesi, Prof. Atasoy, the author of the book, emphasized that Hurrem Sultan was a social person, stating, “Hurrem Sultan was very active, approachable, and intelligent. Of course, she was someone who made her wishes known. However, Hurrem Sultan undoubtedly had a charitable side. She had this bath built so many people could benefit from it and pray, ‘May Allah be pleased with her.’ Works like this ensured her immense popularity and led Sultan Suleiman I to regard her as ‘number one.'”

Prof. Atasoy also touched upon the importance of cleanliness in the Ottoman Empire, saying, “In the Ottoman Empire, water culture was very important; washing was a priority. The religious influence was significant. Being clean, i.e., performing ablution and ritual washing, was religiously important. In this regard, cleanliness in Turkish culture was at a level that cannot be compared to the West. The cleanliness culture, which was common among all Muslims, took on a more refined and delicate form among Turks.”

Conneciton between cleanliness culture and architecture

Prof. Atasoy also evaluated the relationship between the cleanliness culture and architecture in the Ottoman Empire, saying, “In terms of architecture, the Ottomans made great strides and created beautiful things. The bathhouse became an area where Turks excelled. Baths already existed before the Ottomans, but Turks refined the bath architecture in an incredibly delicate way.”

This bath is particularly beautiful

“Although there are many beautiful baths in the Ottoman Empire, the Hurrem Sultan Hamam, built by Mimar Sinan near the Hagia Sophia, is especially beautiful,” said Prof. Atasoy, continuing, “This bath introduced a significant architectural innovation. All Ottoman baths were square, but the Hurrem Sultan Hamam is not. It is the first to be developed along an axis, making it unique in Ottoman history.”

Used as a paper storage in past

The Hurrem Sultan Hamam deviated from its original purpose and suffered damage over time. Prof. Atasoy shared her observations, saying, “Like many old buildings, the Hurrem Sultan Hamam was exploited. I saw how it was misused from my childhood. It was used as a carpet storage, treated like a marketplace, and turned into a paper storage. However, I am extremely pleased with its current state. It has been beautifully restored and is now functioning as a bathhouse.”

Prof. Atasoy also touched upon the changing bathing culture, saying, “Today, it is not easy to find the time to go to a bathhouse. However, it is beautiful to see the tradition preserved, and relaxing in the bath is something we still need today.”

A great gap in cleanliness between Ottomans and West

Prof. Atasoy explained the contrast between the Ottoman and European approach to cleanliness in the 1550s, the period when the Hurrem Sultan Hamam was constructed: “In Europe, the understanding of cleanliness was very different; there was no concept of frequent washing. There was no idea of keeping homes and spaces clean. Streets were extremely filthy, and waste was thrown out of windows. There was a huge gap between the Ottoman Empire and Europe, and Europe faced many diseases. Since these diseases did not occur in Türkiye, our bathhouses were admired by Europeans, and similar bathhouses were built in Europe later on. We were a model to them.”