3 must know phrases from Mostar

One region, city and town are not only described by its traditions and architecture but also by its language which developed under the historical influences and culture. Today the city of Mostar still has notable cultural and architectural remains of the Ottoman period.

The Islamic Ottoman Empire era of rule in the Bosnia and Herzegovina region lasted from 1463/1482 to 1878.

Tour Guide Mostar brings you 3 must know vocabulary items from Mostar…

1. Å adrvan

The word Å adrvan denotes a public fountain built in the courts of mosques, madrasah and tekke. It had two purposes, one being architecture attraction and the second one was for people to wash and clean their hands before going to religious ceremonies. These one of a kind places gave a special touch of oriental charm to the towns.

The concept of building Å adrvan comes from the Persian culture and it was brought to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Ottoman rule.

The most famous Å adrvan is the one in the court of the magnificent Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, which is now a museum and worldwide known cultural heritage.

In case you have missed it, read our previous post – Discover the history behind the picturesque Å adrvan.

In the past Mostar had five well know Šadrvan`s while today there are only two of them left, in Karagöz Bey Mosque and in Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque (built in 1781.). Both of them are situated on the left side of Neretva river.

2. Džezva

The word Džezva has the origin in Turkish language, in Turkish cezve denotes a Turkish coffee pot with a long handle.

Coffee pot is the metal, kitchen dish with handle designed especially for cooking coffee. It is a symbol of Bosnia and Herzegovina and part of a tradition that is passed for generations.

Coppersmiths are masters who have made coffee pot in specialized crafts workshops Coppersmith’s shop, and this old craft has been preserved to a much lesser extent today.

Coffee pot can be made of different metals which do not affect the taste of coffee. Standard metals from which coffee pot is made are: copper, iron and steel (or flame retardant glass). The handle can be made from the same material that body was made, but may be different such as wood and flame retardant plastics.

3. Hamam

The word Hamam comes from Turkish language and denotes public baths (hammam). That was common practice in the Ottoman era. The Turkish public bath near the Tabačica mosque and the Tabhana (the town district encompassing leather processing workshops) was built between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century in the classical Ottoman architectural style. It is the only Turkish bath still existing in Mostar and one of the few remaining examples in the whole of Herzegovina.

The Hammam comprises a central room used as an antechamber, an intermediate space (tepidarium) and the room for the bath itself, called calidarium.

This type of building is conceived for a purely functional, public use without any pretence to opulence: the external parts usually have no decorations and, surrounding the Turkish bath, there often stands a mosque, an Islamic school or a public kitchen. The Cejvan Ćehajin Hamam has no windows and has a roof made of domes designed to protect the privacy of its users.

At the end of the Ottoman era, the Bath ceased to be used and, restored during the reconstruction of the historic centre, thanks to the aid of France and Turkey, it is nowadays used to host exhibitions and cultural events.