VICTORIAN TURKISH BATHS: Glossary: sauna |

Sauna

A larger sauna from Llafs

The very oldest saunas were probably only pits dug in a slope in the ground and primarily used as dwellings in winter. There was a fireplace and stones were heated in fire until they were hot. Then water was thrown over them to produce steam and to give a sensation of more heat. This would raise the temperature so high that people could take off their clothes. The word sauna is an ancient Finnish word and its etymology is not clear but it may have originally meant a winter dwelling of this kind.

Whereas the Russian bath uses steam to ensure that bathers sweat, and the Victorian Turkish bath uses dry heat, sauna uses both approaches. At the start, the heat is relatively dry. Then, as water is added to the source of heat (usually stones), the atmosphere becomes very humid for a while until the cycle is started again.

Finns in the sauna, like Russians in the bania, use a bundle of leaves to whisk themselves to stimulate the skin. The Finnish vihta is made of leafy birch twigs.

Glossary entries are only available
for the hyperlinked terms:

Aeratone baths

Banya (see: Russian baths)

Chibouk, or Chibouque

Cold water cure (see: Hydropathy)

Electric baths

Electro-Turkish baths

Foam baths (see: Aeratone baths; Zotofoam baths)

Galvanic baths (see: Electric baths)

Hammam

Hookah (see: Narghile)

Hydropathy

Islamic hammam (see: Hammam )

Steam baths (see: Russian baths)

Surround shower (see: Needle shower )

Turkish baths (see: Victorian Turkish bath)

Vapour baths (see: Russian baths)

Water cure (see: Hydropathy)

Wet sheet pack (see: Hydropathy)

Victorian Turkish bath

Zotofoam baths

This list was last augmented on 09 June 2008

Victorian Turkish Baths:
their origin, development,
and gradual decline

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