Turkish baths. Historical artwork of a steam room in Constantinople with people massaging, bathing and cleansing. These baths are from the 17th century, during the height of the Ottoman Empire's power. Bathing here was not only an essential source of purification in Ottoman culture and in Islam religion, but the baths were also a popular social meeting place. Later, in Victorian times, Turkish baths became a fashionable form of relaxation and were particularly popular in Western Europe during Victorian times. German watercolour, early 17th century.