Hamman Al-Nahhasin in Old Aleppo shakes the dust of war and restores life

Hamman Al-Nahhasin, one of the oldest and largest public baths in the ancient city of Aleppo, is regaining its brightness as an archeological landmark that retained its beauty throughout the past years. Today the bath is recovering after the rehabilitation and restoration works, carried out to erase the traces of terrorism that affected some of its parts, are about to be accomplished. Thus, the intimate social life that the people of the old neighborhoods of Aleppo used to experience in the past, in addition to the rituals of joyful occasions that were used to be held in this bath will return.

In order to reach the bath, bathers have to walk through small alleys behind the Grand Ummayad Mosque in Aleppo and pass through fascinating old souks and churches.

 The owner of Hammam Al-Nahhasin Ibrahim Qattan clarified that the bath was built 950 years ago by Aisha bint Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi in accordance with the old style of architecture that gives warmth to the place in winter and coolness in summer.

Historically, Qattan said, the bath was two parts; the first was dedicate for women and called (Hammam Al-Sitt) and the second was dedicated for men and called Hammam Al-Nahhasin (the bath of the coppersmiths).

According to Qattan, the Hammam now consists of three sections: The internal section that contains the warm rooms and the hot rooms. The warm rooms are designated for a short relaxation before taking bath. The hot rooms are designated for a full body wash and steam bath. The central section which is designated for a massage after the body wash and the external section which is the largest part of the hammam and which is characterized with its traditional wooden decorations and marble floor. Here, bathers can take a period of relaxation around the pond.

Qattan noted that the huge damage caused to some parts of the bath due to terrorism, clarifying that after the liberation of Aleppo from terrorist groups and the restoration of security and stability, the rehabilitation and renovation works were launched in the bath to put it into service soon so that it can welcome bathers again.

The bath can accommodate more than 200 people, said Qattan, pointing out that before the war, the bath used to host the rituals of some social occasions, including weddings. The bridegroom used to come to the bath accompanied with a group of his friends to take bath amid old and folkloric songs and chants. This used also to be accompanied by having meals and sweets.

Ahmad Al-Shehabi, Director of Ancient Aleppo city council, said that the restoration and rehabilitation works in Hammam Al-Nahhasin coincide with the restoration works conducted in the old markets and commercial inns in Aleppo. He pointed out that these works are carried out in cooperation with economic figures and the local community.

Hamda Mustafa