Hammams (Turkish Baths) in Tripoli - Lebanon

Tripoli's only functioning hammam is Hammam elAbed. It was mentioned in Nabulsi's accounts of his visit to Tripoli in the early 18th century, this suggests that the bath was probably built at the end of the 17th century. It is present at the Roumanneh district at the Sayyagheen Bazaar. It occupies a 500 m2 area and it has the typical pierced domes of Mamluke and Ottoman Era public baths. The interior, with its cushions, central fountain and traditional fittings, is a living museum.

Known as the Hammam ElAateek, Hammam el Azem is situated in El-Mina below the arch of the Kabir Ali mosque. This bath was constructed by Ibrahim Pasha elAzem, governor of Tripoli, during the Ottoman period in year 1136 H./1723 CE.

This public bathing-house was gifted to the city at 1295-1299 CE/694-698 Hejirah by its Mamluke governor "Izzeldeen Aybak elMawsili". The governor, who died in 1298 A.D. (late 13th century), is buried in a mausoleum beside the hammam. In building this bath, he used choice remains from the Crusader church and hospice of St. Jacob. The front portal is decorated with an inscribed fragment between two Saint-James shells, and the inner door is surmounted by the Paschal lamb. The hammam Izzedeen, badly damaged in lebanon's war, was in continual use until recently and it is now under restoration. It occupies a 745 m2 area and is present at the Hadeed district.

The main gate of the hammam caries an arch that includes series of alternate colored-stones with some simple decoratif motifs below. The gate is decorated on top with a picture of a small lamb who's head is surrounded by an icon. The lamb symbols the "Holly Lamb" slaughtered by Christian during Eastern. On the right and left sides of the lamb there are two rounded-flower motifs. Next to the right-sided flower stands a latin inscription. On another place, the name of St. Jacob is clearly indicated (SCStACOBOS).

Built around 1723-1730 CE by Ibrahim Pasha elAzem (the Ottoman governor of the city) on the remainings of a Mameluke construction, and called the "New Bath," this is by far the largest hammam in the city of Tripoli since it occupies 600 m2. Although it has not been in operation since the 1970's, its faded grandeur still stirs the imagination. Hammam elJadeed is located in the Haddadeen district and is at present unused.

Inner view from the Jadeed (New) Bath.

Hammam Jadeed in the late 1960's.

Present at the vicinity of the Mansouri Great Mosque at the Nouri district, Hammam elNouri was built by the Prince Sonjor Bin Abdulah el-Nouri at 1310 CE. The hammam follows the Mameluke style and it occupies 545 m2. However, it differs from Izzedeen Hammam in that the dressing room and the tepidarium are built on a smaller scale. On the other hand, the hot water steam hall is large and is surrounded by a series of private bathing alcoves. The interior is decorated with multicolored marble pavement, basins and fountains and from the exterior one can get a view of its cluster of domes perforated with light holes with protruding blue and green glass roundels. At present, Hammam elNouri is not used and needs an urgent maintainance.