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