Public bathhouses are an ancient tradition in Iran that in many areas still form part of people's daily lives. Bathhouses were, and in some cases still are, focal points for entire local communities. In the past, locals not only cleaned themselves in the bathhouse but also had their teeth pulled and male babies circumcised.

The Kordasht Bathhouse is a historical structure located in the central section of Jolfa in East Azerbaijan Province. The Bath and Kordasht Village that it’s situated in are on the southern banks of the Aras River. It is bordered by peaks of Armenia on the northern side and the Kamtal Mountains in the south. Its geographic location enables it to have mild winters and warm summers. Annually the Bath and Village are host to thousands of visitors and tourists.

 

The Bath was constructed in the midst of a large garden in the Safavid Era during the reign of Shah Abbas. It was built upon the shah’s orders and originally it was considered a royal bath for use only by royalty. 

 

Commissioned by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, it underwent some renovation during the Qajar Era which transformed it into its current form. Its appearance aside, one of the changes that Agha Mohammad Khan declaring it open for use by the public. Throughout the years not much maintenance was carried out for the Bath and it ultimately went through natural deterioration. Such was the level of such deterioration that people stopped using the facility and it in effect became an abandoned relic of the past. 

 

Following this phase the Kordasht Bathhouse became recognized as one of Azerbaijan’s historical structures and began attracting visitors.

 

The Bath has some impressive interior carvings, adding to its charm. From the point of view of internal arrangement and wall paintings it is simply spectacular. Upon entrance a first set of stairs lead to an initial sitting area. A further eight stairs brings you to an octagonal shaped changing room. The changing room has a domed roof which is supported by eight decorated columns. A hallway connects the changing room to another octagonal shaped room that contains the main pool. To its left are two toilets and a smaller pool. This room which is supported by four columns has a waterway that directs hot water into the pool. The room receives natural light via intentional ducts scattered throughout the ceiling.

 

While the Bath is not currently functional, however, officials from the Cultural Organization of East Azerbaijan are in the process of renovating and upkeeping the Bath to boost tourism.

 

A brief history

Bathhouses existed prior to the Islamic period in the Iranian cultural area. However, their number seems to have been limited due to the Zoroastrian religion’s reverence for the holy element of water. Other sources also confirm the existence of baths in pre-Islamic Iran. For example, King Vologeses (484-88) incurred the wrath of the Zoroastrian priests by building public baths, for in this way people would pollute the holy element, water. 

 

With the conversion of the population of Iran to Islam, ritual purity became a requirement of religious life. Thenceforth bathing became an integral part of life. Besides, baths were frequented not only for purity and hygienic reasons, but also for medical purposes. Physicians prescribed taking the waters against a great variety of ailments.