The Turkish public bath, or hamam, evolved from Roman baths to become part of the Islamic ritual of purification before prayer. A hamam combines the architecture of Roman baths with the Turkish tradition of steam bathing, ritual cleansing, and respect for water. A typical hamam consists of three interconnected rooms, which are used in a precise order. The bather starts in the hot room, or sıcaklık, which is for soaking up steam and getting scrub massages. Next, the bather washes in the warm room, or tepidarium. Finally, the bather finishes off with a rinse in the cool room, or soğukluk. The hamam box was used to carry personal soaps and towels to and from the hamam.