Bath of the Winds

The Bathhouse of the Winds, also known as Aerides Bath, is one of the few remaining Ottoman public baths in Athens and represents an important testimony of Turkish presence in the city. Located in the picturesque neighborhood of Plaka, near the Tower of the Winds and the Roman Agora, this bath dates back to the early period of Ottoman occupation, between the 15th and 17th centuries. The Bathhouse of the Winds was built as a hammam, a type of Turkish bath that served not only as a place for cleaning, but also as an important social and cultural center. Public baths were meeting places where people could socialize, discuss business, and enjoy a moment of relaxation. The structure of the Bathhouse of the Winds reflects this function, with spaces designed to offer a relaxing and rejuvenating path through different rooms with varying temperatures. The bath is divided into two main sections: one for men and one for women, each with its own dressing areas, tepidarium (warm room), and caldarium (very hot room). The sections were richly decorated with tiles, arches, and domes, giving the environment a luxurious and welcoming atmosphere. The caldarium, in particular, was heated through a hypocaust system, which allowed to maintain the high temperatures necessary for thermal treatments. The Bathhouse of the Winds remained in operation as a public bath until 1956, when it was closed and subsequently acquired by the Greek Ministry of Culture. After a long period of restoration, in 1998 the bath was reopened to the public as part of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture, becoming an exhibition space for temporary and permanent exhibitions. The exhibitions inside the Bathhouse of the Winds explore the history and importance of public baths through the centuries, not only in Greece but worldwide. Visitors can see antique objects, such as tools used for thermal treatments, and informative panels explaining the evolution of hygiene and social practices related to public baths. A particularly interesting area is dedicated to the women’s section of the bath, which contains objects and traditional clothing offering a glimpse into the daily life of women during the Ottoman occupation. An interesting anecdote concerns the name of the bath, “Bathhouse of the Winds,” which derives from its proximity to the Tower of the Winds, an ancient marble tower built in the 1st century BC. The tower served as a sundial, water clock, and weather station, and is one of the most famous monuments of the Roman Agora. The proximity between the bath and the tower has created a symbolic connection between the two buildings, both witnesses of the long and complex history of Athens.