Shirin Su bathhouse

Shirin Su bathhouse

Azerbaijani: Şirin su hamamı
The interior of the main domed hall of the Shirin Su bathhouse after restoration work in 2024
Location	Shusha, Azerbaijan
Designer	Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi
Type	bathhouse
Completion date	18th century

Shirin Su bathhouse or the Bathhouse of the Fresh Water (Azerbaijani: Şirin su hamamı) is a historical monument located in the city of Shusha. It was built in 1878–1880 at the order of Khurshidbanu Natavan by the architect of Kerbelayi Sefikhan Garabaghy.^[1] On 2 August 2001, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, by the Resolution No. 32, registered it as a historical monument of a republican significance.^[2]

History

The Shirin Su bathhouse, one of the Shusha bathhouses, was built at the order of Khurshidbanu Natavan, the daughter of the last Karabakh khan, Mehdigulu Khan Javanshir, in 1878-1880s, by the architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi.^[3] The bath was called "Shirin Su" (fresh water) thanks to the fact that it used drinking water, which was brought to city, back in 1873, by Natavan. The bathhouse served men on the odd days of the week, and women on the even days. It functioned until the city of Shusha got under the control of the Armenian forces.^[4] After the end of the Karabakh War, the building of the bathhouse remained intact, however the interior decoration was changed by Armenians. The patterns and the ornaments on the dome and the hall's walls were completely destroyed.^[5] A swimming pool, not related to the bathhouse, was built inside.

See also

• Chokak Hamam
• Underground Bath
• Gasim bey Bath

References

1. "Şuşanın hamamları" (in Azerbaijani). 525-ci qəzet. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
2. "Azərbaycan Respublikası ərazisində dövlət mühafizəsinə götürülmüş daşınmaz tarix və mədəniyyət abidələrinin əhəmiyyət dərəcələrinə görə bölgüsünün təsdiq edilməsi haqqında" (PDF) (in Azerbaijani). mct.gov.az. August 8, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
3. Vüqar İmanov (February 22, 2021). "Həmişə təmizlikdə! Бани города Шуша – старинные традиции, особенности для женщин" (in Russian). trend.az. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
4. "Şirin su hamamı" (in Azerbaijani). virtualkarabakh.az. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
5. "В Шушу - к Пику Победы!" (in Russian). apa.az. August 14, 2021. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.