SYRIA: PUBLIC BATHS OF DAMASCUS COULD SOON DISAPPEAR скачать в хорошем качестве

SYRIA: PUBLIC BATHS OF DAMASCUS COULD SOON DISAPPEAR

(23 May 1996) Arabic/Nat Once the pride of the Arabic world, the public baths of Damascus could soon be consigned to the history books. In the early years of this century, when Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire, as many as one hundred were in use. Now only a quarter are left, and many of those are falling into disrepair and are facing closure. With them will disappear splendid buildings and a part of Syrian life that goes back four thousand years. This is the oldest part of the city of Damascus. For thousands of years the bath houses in this area were the focus of the lives of the people of Damascus, but now the tradition may be coming to an end. These bath houses or "hammamat", no longer suit the lives of new generations who are choosing to enjoy their luxuries at home. Thanks to the convenience of modern plumbing, Damascans have swapped the pleasures of the public ritual at the bath house for a private bath in their own home. But the traditional bath house provides so much more. Of course, customers can expect to be thoroughly cleaned. But they can also go there just to pass the time. In the past, grooms would gather there on the eve of their weddings and play drums or the flute. People still involved with the baths are acutely aware of their history. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) This bath is called Al-Moqadam bath. it was named after the first police commissioner in Damascus. Moqadam was his rank (major). He used to bath here in the old days. It was built 950 or a thousand years ago and it is one of the first baths in Damascus. Inside the bath there is a compartment called el-Sheikh compartment and a basin called el-Sheikh basin. they are both called after Sheikh Mohi el-Dien Arabi (a Moslem cleric who used to live in Damascus hundreds of years ago). SUPER CAPTION: Mohammed Kamal, Al-Moqadam bath The bath houses were not the exclusive domain of men. They once attracted family picnics and even women's' outings - the bath house was one of the few places in this Muslim country where they could spend some time apart from men. But now hardly anyone goes - a dozen people a day is all they can expect. But the few who do still come claim there is no better place to relax and to be totally pampered by experts who usually come from a long family line of masseurs. The only thing delaying what seems to be the inevitable disappearance of these bath houses is their popularity with tourists and foreign residents. But as the Syrians themselves continue to desert them, there simply won't be enough people left inside to ensure their survival. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...