Hamam al-Sammara
Encyclopedia
Hamam al-Sammara is the only active Turkish bath remaining in Gaza
, located in the Zeitoun Quarter of the Old City. It is situated 3 metres (9.8 ft) below street level. It is currently owned by Salim Abdullah al-Wazeer.
governor of the city Sanjar ibn Abdullah. It is the only Turkish bathhouse in Gaza, of the original five, that continues to function. According to Theodore E. Dowling writing in 1913, in 1584, a Samaritan
community existed in Gaza and possessed a large synagogue and two bathhouses. "One of them still bears the name "the Bath of the Samaritans". One of the governors of Gaza who belonged to the Ridwan dynasty, desired to acquire the bathhouse, but the owner refused to sell it and the indignant governor had him hanged in front of the building. It is believed the Samaritans were expelled from the city before the turn of the 16th century.
The Wazeer family who owned Hamam as-Sammara decided to tear it down and construct a new building. However, they were faced with an ancient water heating system and traditional bathhouse that no longer functioned properly and which would be extremely costly to repair. Therefore, the Islamic University of Gaza
and the United Nations Development Programme
partly restored Hamam as-Sammara after it was nearly demolished due to rising costs of maintenance. The bathhouse still uses an old system of wood-fueled ovens and aqueducts, and for this reason, the Wazeer family has been collecting funds to renovate the aqueducts beneath the buildings marble
slabs.
Bathhouses are used as a folk remedy for rheumatism
and infertility, and it is customary for mothers to bring their 40-day-old infants to Hamam as-Sammara for a blessing. It has a social importance, especially to women, as a place where community members come together to socialize. Services are open to both men and women, but at different times of the day.
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, located in the Zeitoun Quarter of the Old City. It is situated 3 metres (9.8 ft) below street level. It is currently owned by Salim Abdullah al-Wazeer.
History
Although rumored to date back to pre-Islamic times in Gaza, a plaque in the lobby of the bathhouse proclaims that Hamam al-Sammara was restored in 1320 by the MamlukMamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
governor of the city Sanjar ibn Abdullah. It is the only Turkish bathhouse in Gaza, of the original five, that continues to function. According to Theodore E. Dowling writing in 1913, in 1584, a Samaritan
Samaritan
The Samaritans are an ethnoreligious group of the Levant. Religiously, they are the adherents to Samaritanism, an Abrahamic religion closely related to Judaism...
community existed in Gaza and possessed a large synagogue and two bathhouses. "One of them still bears the name "the Bath of the Samaritans". One of the governors of Gaza who belonged to the Ridwan dynasty, desired to acquire the bathhouse, but the owner refused to sell it and the indignant governor had him hanged in front of the building. It is believed the Samaritans were expelled from the city before the turn of the 16th century.
The Wazeer family who owned Hamam as-Sammara decided to tear it down and construct a new building. However, they were faced with an ancient water heating system and traditional bathhouse that no longer functioned properly and which would be extremely costly to repair. Therefore, the Islamic University of Gaza
Islamic University of Gaza
Islamic University of Gaza is an independent Palestinian university established in 1978 in Gaza City, Palestinian territories. The university, according to its website, has 10 faculties capable of awarding either B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc., Diploma and higher diploma in their respective disciplines...
and the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
partly restored Hamam as-Sammara after it was nearly demolished due to rising costs of maintenance. The bathhouse still uses an old system of wood-fueled ovens and aqueducts, and for this reason, the Wazeer family has been collecting funds to renovate the aqueducts beneath the buildings marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
slabs.
Structure and services
Hamam as-Sammara consists of several rooms with varied temperatures. Customers first leave their belongings with the clerk, then proceed to the steam room, after which they bathe in warm water. Sprinklers shower cool water on bathers to prevent overheating, and canisters are provided for ladling water. The final stage involves wading in the maghtas, a small pool filled with hot water, about a meter deep. After bathing, customers enter the room-temperature lounge. Massages are also available. Massages are undertaken by a mudalik (a professional "scrubber"), while the client soaks in the steam room.Bathhouses are used as a folk remedy for rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
and infertility, and it is customary for mothers to bring their 40-day-old infants to Hamam as-Sammara for a blessing. It has a social importance, especially to women, as a place where community members come together to socialize. Services are open to both men and women, but at different times of the day.