Souk Es Sekajine

36.795824°N 10.168642°E / 36.795824; 10.168642

Signage

Souk Es Sekajine (Arabic: سوق السكاجين) or Souk Es Sarragine is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis. specializing in leather goods, saddles, and horse harnesses.[1]

Name

The term Es Sekajine is a mutation of ach-chakkazine, referring to traditional craftsmen who made achkouz, saddles of high-quality leather.[1]

In some European books, it is instead called Souk des Selliers, meaning "souk of saddlers".[2][3]

Location
Pre-1930s postcard of the souk

The souk is situated west of Al-Zaytuna Mosque and east of Bab Menara gate.[1][3]

History

The souk has existed since the 15th century CE. It was revived in the 18th century by Al-Husayn I ibn Ali of the Husainid Dynasty.[1]

In modern times, the souk has a variety of merchants and there are only two saddlemakers remaining there.[1]

Monuments

The souk has two monuments: a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the tomb of the Majorcan writer Anselm Turmeda.

  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
    Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
  • Tomb of Anselm Turmeda, who wrote in both Arabic and Catalan.
    Tomb of Anselm Turmeda, who wrote in both Arabic and Catalan.
  • Memorial plaques in Arabic and Catalan on the tomb of Turmeda.
    Memorial plaques in Arabic and Catalan on the tomb of Turmeda.

References
  1. "Souk As-Sakkajine". commune-tunis.gov.tn. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  2. Charles Lallemand (1892). Tunis et ses environs: texte et dessins d'après nature (in French). Librairies-imprimeries réunies. pp. 151.
  3. Graham Petrie (1908). Tunis, Kairouan & Carthage: Described and Illustrated with Forty-eight Paintings. Heinemann. p. 68.
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