A man relaxes on a heated slab of marble during a hammam at the Turkish baths, in the Kucukcekmece district of Istanbul on November 2, 2024. For centuries, hammams were central to Ottoman society, and although they fell out of use with the advent of running water, many are being restored to revive this ancient ritual bathing tradition. Often featured in older Turkish films, hammam scenes are highly entertaining, with women not only bathing but enjoying these historical bathhouses as a place to socialise, to eat, to drink and even dance. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)