Hammam El Dheb (Bala'a Sbaya)

Tunis · Tunisia · House

In the bathhouse known as the Maiden Swallower, a red jinn is said to have dragged young women into the basin – no women have bathed here for 400 years.

In Bab Souika, in the old medina of Tunis, stands Hammam El Dheb, the Golden Bath, popularly known by the ominous name Bala'a Sbaya – the Maiden Swallower. Legend tells of a red jinn dwelling in the bath who abducted unmarried women: one girl was pulled down into the basin when her greedy mother urged her to scoop up gold from the water, and a bride vanished into the very walls on her wedding day, her voice fading while black hair sprouted from the mortar. For some 400 years the bath has therefore been reserved for men – no woman is said to dare bathe here.

FAQ

Where is Hammam El Dheb (Bala'a Sbaya) located?

Hammam El Dheb (Bala'a Sbaya) is in Tunis, Tunisia.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.