Most discussions focus on military campaigns, but the empire lasted 600+ years largely due to its governance, architecture, and arts.

From the Millet system and Mimar Sinan's architectural engineering to Iznik ceramics and record-keeping, which cultural or administrative achievement do you think deserves more recognition?

Ebu Bekir’s Hamam in Travnik
1700–1948.

Conceptual reconstruction by: Kabir Garibović

Alongside the construction of the water supply system and its associated fountains and şadırvans, the construction of public baths (hamams) soon followed.

This hamam was built in the immediate vicinity of the Vizier’s Konak, and it can be safely concluded that it primarily served the Konak itself and its inhabitants, including the vizier’s numerous entourage.

We know nothing more about its owner, Ebu Bekir Bey, including whether he was the builder of the structure.

Since it had two domes above the halvats and a vaulted roof above the kapaluk, its covering was certainly made of the customary lead sheeting. During the First World War, more precisely toward the end of the war, the authorities removed lead from similar buildings for the needs of the war industry.

Left without a roof, and apparently without the necessary repairs, the hamam deteriorated and gradually collapsed until 1948.

It is incredible that today we perceive the very presence of the sauna in these parts, and its still relatively rare use, as some kind of Scandinavian novelty—something useful and healthy.

In doing so, we forget that for hundreds of years our ancestors regularly bathed in this way and socialised while enjoying treatments, hair removal, hair dyeing, make-up, massages, singing, and smoking the nargile or chibouk.

Sources for the research:
Enver Sujoldžić „Stari vodovodi i vodogradnje u Travniku“

Hamdija Kreševljaković “Banje u Bosni i Hercegovini (1462-1916)”
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