As-Sumarā Bath (Men’s days: daily, Time: 09:00 – 24:00. Women’s days: by booking in groups only. Fees: NIS 40. Tel: 09-2385185)

As- Sumarā bath is located in the southern eastern part of al-Yāsmīnah quarter. Its name may be because at one time it had been owned or managed by Samaritans. This bath belongs to the Tūqān family. It is relatively a small compound in comparison to other baths.

Historical Section
Building Attribution: The attribution of the bath was based on what was mentioned in the records of the Nablus Sharia Court.
History: The records of the Nablus Sharia Court state that in 1067 AH/1656 AD the bath was owned by Murad Pasha who inherited it from his father Elias Pasha, who is only known for holding the title of Pasha, which indicates that they were princes and dignitaries of the Ottoman Turkish state. In another document dating back to 1102 AH/1690 AD, it is stated that Ali Bey, son of Murad Pasha, sold his share in the bath to Ibrahim Jurbaji Touqan on this date, who in turn endowed it on this date as well.

In 1311 AH/1893 AD, the construction of the bath was weakened and fell into ruin, the water supply was cut off, and the situation was disrupted and a major renovation was necessary. Accordingly, the bath and its canal were rebuilt shortly after this date, where it returned to its previous activity and remained until 1975 AD, when it was abandoned and the bath was closed until it was rehabilitated in 1996 AD and re-operated again as it is now.
Founder and builders: It is not known who founded the bath in the late Mamluk era, but in 1067 AH/1656 AD it was owned by Murad Pasha and his father Elias Pasha. In 1102 AH/1690 AD it became the property of Ibrahim Jurbaji Touqan and then to his heirs.
Later (modern) history: After the bath was closed in 1975 AD, its current tenant Hazem Marai repaired it and re-operated it in 1996 AD.

Architectural description
The bath consists of a western stone facade overlooking the Jasmine Street, and the use of old stones is prevalent in it, likely dating back to the Byzantine period, and an arch on the public road rests on this facade. The northern façade appears to have been restored during the Ottoman era, as it is centered by the rectangular bath entrance, 2 m high and 1 m wide, which leads directly to the reception hall. This hall has a square floor plan and its floor is covered with stone tiles, and in the middle is a polygonal pool of water. On the three sides of the hall, south, west and east, there are stone benches for bathers to sit on. Four pointed stone arches resting on four pillars support a high circular dome (Figure (1)). In the southwestern corner of the hall, a small entrance opens leading to a corridor that turns left and then right, covered by a ceiling with a local-style vault leading to the bathing hall. The hall is rectangular in shape and contains a group of cells and rooms, each of which contains a stone oven for water. This room is covered by a local-style vault interspersed with circular openings (moons) covered by colored glass windows. To the south of the bath is the sump needed to store the waste needed to heat the water.

Figure (1): The reception hall and Al-Sumara bath