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Ottoman bath in Apollonia of Volvi

Articles

• Χατζητρύφωνος, Ευαγγελία
• Χατζητρύφωνος, Ευαγγελία

In the vicinity of lake Volvi, at the boundaries of today’s village Apollonia, there is a complex of buildings which consists of a khan, a mosque and a bath (hamam), as well as the remains possibly of a fortification wall. The above belong to the period of the Turkish domination, except maybe from the remains of the wall—which probably was older and appear to have been in immediate relation the the Via Egnatia. No archaeological studies have been made in the area, with the exception of the bath’s surroundings when a research was made in a plan of upgrading the site. From the bath remain only the steam rooms, built on the small pillars of the hypocaust, whereas the large cool entrance and waiting hall have long since been destroyed. The archaeological research uncovered its remains and gave us sufficient evidence about it. The rooms that have remained are badly damaged, but their masonry is in good condition. The construction is in the Byzantine system of brick inlaid in stone. Many elements show that the building consists of three basic historical phases: the first one includes the lower part of the hearth, parts of the pillars of the hypocaust and part of the masonry of the room. There is enough indication that this phase is Byzantine and constitutes the base of the Ottoman bath. The second phase includes the masonry of all the rooms, the cupola and the rest of the roof except of the dome of the passage. In this phase there are many double constructions of the walls and additions to the interior and exterior flank. It is also apparent that it is in this phase that belongs the demolished cool entrance hall. The third phase includes the dome of the passage and some changes made in the renovation of the roof, especially in the part of the sanitary installations.The study of the building’s type, supports the notion that it has been built on a formerly existing Byzantine bath. Its similarities, with the more ancient baths, mainly those of Proussa and then those of the area of Constantinople, are numerous. The conception of the space of the bath in Apollonia is not unlike the one of Eski-Kaplitza (1264) and of Eski-Sehir-Ka- plitza (1235-1453) in Proussa or for that matter the Persebe-Hamam and partially the Bitbazaar-Hamami at the same town. Its type and style are placing it chronologically in the period of Proussa’s School, while the manner of construction and the use of materials show a strong Byzantine influence. This does not contradict the fact that Apollonia is mentioned after a long silence again, on the 15th C and that the unity of buildings, where the bath belongs as well, was part of a station-settlement by the ancient Via Egnatia. The above elements, although there is no inscription of its foundation, are placing the building fairly reasonably in the second half of the 15th C and early 16th C.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

856:https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/makedonika/article/view/6632, DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/makedonika.1078

• http://makedonikajournal.org/index.php/makedonika/article/view/1078