Haj Mohammad Rahim Bathhouse of Qazvin and its Role Among the Public Bathhouses of the City During the Qajar Period

The public Bathhouses (hammams) were considered as one of the most significant elements of forming and expanding the cities and Quarters and also as a symbol of habitability of Cities and villages; depends on the economic ability and position of their founder they have different quality. These important buildings were as a social foundation except their cleanness. Therefore, their comprehensive survey would be helpful to understand the unclear points of the past societies of Iran and their social history. Qazvin as a major commercial center of Iran during the Qajar period in which some and trusted merchants have lived, has 25 old public bathhouse dated from Safavid and Qajar periods which have been preserved nowadays as some of them are still in use; so, Qazvin has special situation among the other cities regarding to bathhouses investigations, so it can led us to make a suitable situation enlivening the Iranian bathhouses. One of the most important bathhouses of Qazvin is “Haj Mohammad Rahim bathhouse”, which has known as Safa bathhouse as well. The construction of the building was in1259 H. /1843 A.D and during that time was not only the best in Qazvin, but also one of the best Iranian bathhouses. The founder was Haj Mohammad Hassan the brother of Haj Mohammad Rahim son of Haj Abdullah Tabriz i’s 5 sons who had migrated to Qazvin during the kingship of Fath Ali Shah, aiming to have trade with his sons. Due to Haj Mohammad Hassan’s interest to his Brother, he called his own made bathhouse as Haj Mohammad Rahim. The family of Abdullah Tabrizi, who has named Amini later, had close relation to the Qajar Kingdom family as they had a special socio-political position over the Qajar period and of them were famous merchant. This family has many endowmentsin Qazvin of which is the understudying bathhouse. It seems that its architect has inspired from ancient architecture of Iran and the founder has ordered to make a suitable bathhouse as his socio-economic position.