ISHTAR HAMMAM
A place of rejuvenation
Ishtar Hammam is the first authentic, specialized hammam located in the center of Heraklion.
We invite you to indulge in a traditional ritual of deep cleansing and luxury, the quality of which will leave you feeling immersed in a past full of sensations of purification, luxury and wellness.
Be a part of an ancient ritual
Experience the bliss of this unique experience and gift yourself and your loved ones a beautiful rite of relaxation, detoxification and deep cleansing for your body and spirit.
Choosing our services and staying in our specially designed spaces is a lively and wonderful process.
Upon leaving our premises, you will feel immersed into the powerful senses of sanitizing, cleansing and revitalizing your body and soul.
What is a hammam?
Hammam is a traditionally designed steam bath, in a room where the humidity is around 80-90% and the temperature is around 40°C.
Your visit to the hammam will be reminiscent of a traditional ritual of cleansing and relaxing the body, which will include three stages.
1
In the first stage, you will be left to relax in our luxurious steaming area so you may sweat, which in turn will relax your pores allowing them to open them properly, in order to prepare your skin for the next steps of your chosen service.
2
Followed by the second stage, you will experience for yourself the scrubbing and exfoliation of the body with natural soap and through the use of a traditional ketche (glove). This procedure is done on marble platforms which ensure relief to your body and warmth flowing to it, as well as the improvement of function of the lymphatic system. Depending on the service you choose and the products they include, the stages of this process may vary.
3
In the final stage, your body shall be rinsed with plenty of water where at the end we have a rinse with colder water to restore its homeostasis, and to normalize the functioning of your circulatory system. Also, there will be the necessary contraction of the pores to keep into the skin the moisture it needs as well as the products that have been used during the treatment.
Benefits
The benefits of a hydrotherapy in a specialized hammam space, like Ishtar Hammam are:
✓ Relaxation of the muscular system.
✓ Skin cleansing, pores are opened and dead cells are removed, leaving the skin cleaner, softer and smoother than ever.
✓ Reduction of fatigue and anxiety.
✓ Helps to treat insomnia.
✓ Elimination of toxins through sweating.
✓ Aids against the appearance of cellulite.
✓ Helps fight dry skin and muscle stiffness.
✓ The perfect recovery after working out and training.
✓ Mobilization of the lymphatic system.
A historical overview of hydrotherapy
Since the Greco-Roman era and the mixing of Western Culture with the Eastern tradition of bathing, cleaning, purifying and healing the body and soul, the process of hydrotherapy has never been the same. Hammams have always been used by men and women as a means to improve their wellness, beauty, relaxation and cleanliness, and have been integral elements of life and human nature for centuries.
It is important to mention that, in ancient Greece, athletes and warriors followed a ritual with hydrotherapy baths, as they used massages to soothe the nervous system. Then, the body and soul were cleansed with the energy of water. In full harmony with this tactic, the pioneer doctors of their time, Hippocrates and Asclepius, adopted hydrotherapy and therapeutic massage for the prevention, but also the treatment, of injuries to the bodies of athletes and warriors.
"Traditional Hammam" is essentially different from any other treatment in a spa or bath and is reaching therapeutic benefits beyond the cleanliness of the body. Hammans served throughout the centuries, especially in Eastern cultures, as a place for social contact, wellness and relaxation. It was and is a space that harmoniously connected to the daily life of the city, its people, as well as those who visit it.
