Hamam (Kos)
The hamam was a bathing facility (also Hammām , Greek χαμάμ , also called Turkish bath ) in the city of Kos on the Greek island of Kos . The building stands behind the courthouse near the plane tree of Hippocrates about 4 m above sea level. Due to the storage of salt in the building from 1948 to the 1980s, the building is also known as a salt depot ( Greek άλας αποθήκη ). The building now serves as a museum.
history
The year this hamam or later salt depot was built is not known. The Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi reports about it in the period 1668 to 1671. After the earthquake in 1933, part of the building was redesigned and modernized by the Italian occupiers, which made it difficult to categorize the original year of construction. It is believed that it was built in the middle of the 16th century. It was built as a public bath and was in operation in this function until 1948.
From 1948 to the 1980s, the building was used as a salt depot. The old mechanical scales in the great hall also come from this time.
The building was renovated in the 2000s and is a listed building.
building
The hamam is a rather inconspicuous rectangular building with several domes with small light openings. The access area was on the northeast side at the corner of the building. It is said to have been a mixed bath, with a separate bathing area for women.
museum
In the renovated building there are pictures on the walls explaining the history of the Turkish bath (in Greek and English ). The opening times are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day, except Tuesdays. The visit is free of charge.
Individual evidence
- ^ Italian Architects and Scholars in the Levant. The case of Rhodes and the Dodecanese Islands under the Italian Fascist Rule , p. 94.
- ↑ a b c Information board at the entrance area.
- ↑ a b Stefan O. Schüller: The Turkish Bath - The Salt Depot, website: insel-kos.info, as of November 9, 2019.
Coordinates: 36 ° 53 ′ 40 ″ N , 27 ° 17 ′ 30 ″ E