Ghoul

demon · Palestine · Middle East and North Africa

Ghoul is a demon from Palestine mythology. The ghoul is one of the most feared entities in Palestinian oral tradition, second only to jinn in prevalence. Unlike the Western concept of ghouls as male undead, the Arabic ghul is always female (grammatically feminine in Arabic) and is classified as a type of evil jinn. Palestinian stories describe ghouls dwelling in desolate areas, graveyards, and ruins where they wait to lure passing humans. The ghoul's primary method is deception — it transforms into an attractive woman, a familiar relative, or even a child in distress to lure victims close befo

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