Photo Gallery

Hammam-e Ali Gholi Agha Bath House (built 18th century)

Bath houses have played an important ritual role in Islam since the earliest times, as cleanliness is an essential prerequisite of religious activities. "Minor ablutions" must be performed before each of the five daily prayers, and "major ablutions" are de rigeur after disease, sexual intercourse, and other defilements. The Hammam thus came to serve a pivotal role in the daily lives of Iranian Muslims. As both men and women gathered there daily (at separate times), it became a space of social gathering as well. Services rendered there might also include massages and hair cuts, including full-body depiliation for women to comply with Islamic hygenic practice.

Most hammams were located in densely populated areas near the local bazaar. Often they were constructed on the grounds of madrasas or hospitals supported by a waqf (endowment for financing religious institutions). In present times, the use of hammam has fallen off markedly as indoor plumbing became widely available. Many hammam in Iran are no longer used, or have been converted to museums or even restaurants.