
Arab civilization
and peoples have some of the most diverse
and colorful stories
and legends in the world, with many of the stories being passed down orally from generation to generation over thousands of years. While some of these are known to be pure myths
and have taken the role of the common fairytales among Arabs, many others still hold a hint that they actually did take place, which makes these myths
and legends ever more exciting<a name=\'more\'></a>.
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The legend of Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp
One of the most famous folktales from Arabia, the legend of Aladdin has captured the imagination of children (and adults) from all over the world. Part of the collection of legends in the “Book of One Thousand
and One Nights”, this story tells of the young impoverished man Aladdin, who embarks on a series of adventures after being tricked by an evil sorcerer
and coming into contact with a magical jinni (or genie), who helps him win the love of a princess.
The story of Aladdin has now become almost universal ©Jennie Park/flickr

The mythical creature of Bahamut
Known as a giant
and monstrous fish that lies in the deep ocean, this mythical creature was believed by ancient Arabs to hold up the earth itself. In this myth, the giant fish carries a giant bull
and gemstone on its back, which an angel stands upon to balance the earth
and sea.
The monster of Nasnas
A horrifying monster of
Arabian mythology, the Nasnas was believed to be an offspring of a demon
and a human, with the powers to kill a person
and make them “fleshless” by simply touching them. The Nasnas was believed to have only half a head
and half of every body part, which he uses to make giant leaps with only one leg to catch
and kill unsuspecting humans.
The legend of Ali Baba
and the Forty Thieves
Another famous tale from the legendary “Book of One Thousand
and One Nights”, this legend tells of the poor woodcutter Ali Baba, who is hurled into a wild adventure when he discovers the hidden den of thieves with the magical words of “Open Sesame”. Ali Baba eventually escapes from the evil thieves
and discovers their enormous cave of treasures.
The mythical creature of Shadhavar
A mythical
Arabian creature that came out of the medieval ages, the Shadhavar was believed to be a unicorn-like creature that has one giant horn
and 42 branches that spread out from this horn. Many legends told of the powerful music that could be played from this magical horn with the wind that blew through its many branches.
The legend of Sindbad the Sailor
Another famous legend, commonly thought of as originating from what is now Iraq, this legend tells of Sindbad the famous sailor
and explorer. Although there are numerous tales of his adventures, most of them deal with Sindbad’s encounters with magical creatures, foreign lands,
and triumphs over powerful monsters.
The tales of Sindbad the Sailor has been loved by people from all corners of the globe ©Special Collections Toronto/flickr

The mythical creature of the Roc
The Roc, a popular mythology of ancient Arabs, is an enormous legendary bird of prey
and is often written about by sailors, fishermen,
and explorers who swore they saw this magical creature while on their adventures. The Roc has often been compared to Western mythical creatures such as the phoenix or the thunderbird.
The lost city of Atlantis of the Sands
The lost city of Atlantis of the Sands, now shrouded in myth
and legend, was supposedly an ancient city in Arabia that was destroyed
and buried under sand, by a serious of natural disasters caused by angry gods. Many explorers continue to believe in this tale
and search for this lost city, with some believing it to be located somewhere in the southern deserts of modern day Saudi Arabia.
The legend of Zarqa’ Al-Yamama
In
Arabian mythology, Zarqa’ Al-Yamama was a powerful woman with incredible powers
and magic. Legend says that she had brilliant blue eyes which helped her foresee the future
and predict events, but she was eventually killed by jealous enemy tribes who tore out her eyes
and crucified her.
The monster of Qutrub
Made popular though
Arabian folklore, the Qutrub is said to be a werewolf-like monster who is a type of demon or jinni. The Qutrub monster is often depicted as similar to the Western concept of a ghoul, as it is written to be the dweller of graveyards
and devourer of corpses.
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