Once a week a visit to the bathhouse (hammam) provided the women of an extended household or neighbourhood with an opportunity for a get-together when they would pamper themselves and exchange the latest news. Even matchmaking took place and the dower discussed at the hammam. Hammams were designed so that bathers were able to move gradually from hot areas to cooler ones. Many such complexes had painted or frescoed interior walls that showed scenes from daily life and other motifs, contributing to the bather’s rejuvenation of spirit and sense of well being.