Al-Nahhasin archaeological bath returns to its splendor after its rehabilitation and restoration in ancient Aleppo

Aleppo (ST): The ancient Al-Nahhasin Hammam (Public bathhouse) in Aleppo in  its Ayyubid splendor,  was re-opened yesterday  after its rehabilitation and restoration thus restoring the rituals of joy to its visitors from the people of the old neighborhoods and markets of Aleppo adjacent to it.

The old bath of al-Nahhasin, adjacent to the Great Umayyad Mosque, dates back to more than 950 years.According to its owner, Ibrahim Kattan its   construction was ordered by  Aisha, the daughter of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. It was divided into two parts: Hammam al-Sit (the Lady) and Hammam al-Nahasin, that is, for the slaves who were present in  Khan al-Nahasin and that is how the bath got its name- Hammam al-Nahhasin.

Kattan added: The bath is characterized by an ancient and unique urban style, adorned with domes that have small openings for lighting, and is below the surface of the ground by several degrees to preserve heat and provide warmth for visitors.

He referred to the damage caused to the bath and the devastation that affected some of its parts as a result of terrorism in 2012, and with the liberation of Aleppo from terrorism, the place was returned, and in 2020 the rehabilitation and restoration began according to the conditions approved by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and the Directorate of the Old City of Aleppo to return to its old urban style and receive people. It is composed of three sections: Al-Barani, which is at the entrance to the bath, where clothes are changed, the middle section, and its temperature is moderate, and then the inner section, which has a high temperature and has a large proportion of steam.

In turn, Saleh Abu Muhair, who spent years working in the bath, talked about the stages of bathing, where the person who wants to shower enters, and is given a piece of cloth  and takes a shower in the middle section, then moves to the steam room to come to the role of a worker called (Al-Mkayes) by helping him in the bathroom. After finishing, he goes to the Barani section for hot drinks, pointing out that the bath witnesses joyous occasions, including the bath of the groom, who comes with his friends and bathes according to the ancient folkloric songs of joy.

K.Q.