I21

Social Hubs and Matchmaking Spots

In the Ottoman era, bathhouses, or hamams, played a central role in daily life. While men visited hamams after prayers at the mosque, women frequented these social hubs for gossip and community. Baths served as places for women to showcase embroidered towels and personal belongings. Ritual preparations, such as bridal and birth baths, were significant occasions.

Mothers-in-law often inspected potential brides in the bath before weddings, emphasizing the Turkish saying, “Now let’s see the bride in the bath!” The bath became a space for matchmaking, allowing mothers to assess the health of potential daughters-in-law.

Ottoman Baths A Cultural Tradition

According to 17th-century traveler Evliya Çelebi, the Ottoman Empire had 4536 hamams. Influenced by Roman baths, the Ottomans incorporated bathing into their cultural tradition. Bathing ceremonies were elaborate, lasting for several hours. Trained staff,

A Journey Through Time

Corum A Cultural Bridge Between East and West

Corum, with its 7000-year-long history, stands as a significant gateway between Central Anatolia and the Black Sea regions. The city embodies a cultural bridge that connects the East to the West.

The Oldest Peace Treaty Kadesh Treaty

The “Kadesh Treaty,” discovered in the excavations in Bogazkoy in 1906, is a historic agreement between the Hittites and Egyptians, two prominent civilizations. Carved on clay tablets, this treaty is recognized as the world’s oldest international peace treaty. A copy of the Kadesh Treaty is proudly exhibited in the New York office of the United Nations Read More about Exploring Ottoman Traditions The Role of Bathhouses.

Corum Museum A Time Capsule of Ages

Originally constructed as a health school in 1914, the Corum Museum exemplifies 19th-century archi