Cleaning and bathing have been the basic elements since the beginning of human needs. Throughout history, various practices have been developed in different geographies, in different cultures and communities. Different reasons were presented for the purpose of cleaning during the historical periods. In old days, cleaning was an action to be protected from the wrath of the gods, but in later cultural periods and maturity reasoning, cleaning and bathing are needed for health purposes. With the emphasis on human being socialized, washing rituals with social groups coincided with the development and maturation of civilizations.

It has been proven by various archaeological excavations in which places that have been washed in different geographies can be performed in history. For the first time, bath was found B.C. 3.000 to be in a town along the Indus river.

It is also understood that archaeological excavations were made in a separate place. Egyptian civilization, Mesopotamian civilizations and various palaces have washing houses. However, the washing and cleaning culture did not show any geographical effect as the development in Anatolia. Anatolia’s riches in terms of clean water resources and the abundance of underground hot and medicinal spring waters have been influential in civilizations since the beginning of history. The baths seen in Indian palaces and Hittite are made with a high level of awareness.

Bathing culture in the ancient Greek city states went one step further and became a social act. The structures of washing were operating together with the Gymnasiums where the sports activities were also held and the baths were made public. At the same time, it was determined that this action from the gods for free structure of the Greek city states should be done for health and wellness. It is believed that baths and healing spring water in Asklepion complexes are made to treat many diseases.

Romans took bathing culture from ancient Greek civilizations. Baths in Romans have become much more systematic and complicated. Roman baths consist of various sections such as cold room, cold water pools, hot rooms, hot baths. During the Roman period, the baths were common used by all, and everyone in the bath were equal whether slave or master. The Roman baths were not just bathing areas, there were gymnasiums, a library, sun terraces and even gastronomic tasting areas and they were visited before bathing or after. An extremely luxurious Roman baths would last for days. Roman baths were not just for the need and health, but it was also for fun. The first civilization to apply various methods to keep the baths warm in places was where there was no hot water was the  Roman Civilization.

Hierapolis, which is one of the most important health centers of Roman period, was visited by natural hot water and around 15 healing baths. Tourists from all over the world are visiting Hierapolis, Pamukkale and Antique Pool to benefit from the healing waters of the Antique Pool in Pamukale and other spas in Pamukkale.

In the period of Anatolia was the bathing cultures, they were at the highest level corresponds to the establishment and ascension periods of the Ottoman State. It is inevitable that more modern baths, are more functional and spacious spaces will emerge when Anatolia’s water rich geography is combined with the necessity of being clean in every region in order to worship in Islamic belief. The elegance and intelligence of the Ottoman civilization in architecture and the baths in Anatolia and other Ottoman provinces are the reasons why the Ottoman cleansing and bathing culture were followed with glamour by other states and civilizations of the time with its stylish interior and exterior designs.
In the Ottoman bath architecture, frenzied work was done in the boiler room of the baths to keep the water hot. Here, the heat of the burning wood fire would keep hot through the hot air ducts, and the steam inside the bath was taken out of the chimneys at various places in the dome. This way, the baths were warmed up and kept warm in the city baths where there were no spas, which were natural hot water. There are various social activities in the hammams, and the biggest entertainment for the ladies is the neighborhood hammams where they can go once a month or every two weeks.

The bridal and military bath were the first of society activities. At the beginning of the 18th century, Lady Mary Montagu, the wife of British envoy Sir Edward Montagu, witnessed a bride’s bath and bridal bath history began. Lady Montagu’s most impressive tradition is the singing of songs in the steam room of the bride and the young girl’s groom. Wrapped in silk Turkish Towel (peştemal) pavilions of unique beauty, the beautiful landscape reflected by the bright marble of the light coming from the dome.

The Ottoman Sea Baths, which emerged in the early 18th century, is another tradition that existed before the beach culture. The sea baths were surrounded by four sides, with openings in the middle and deep piles of the sea. It is believed that the sea is healing, for those who want to cool it off during hot summer days would prefer sea baths.

The Turkish bath is a synthesis of traditional cultures that has the accumulation of centuries. All the equipments of Turkish bath culture from Turkish Towel (peştemal) to pitcher, from soap to bowl, have become more of a curiosity and demand lately. It is our duty to meet these demands.