I came across the wikipedia article on genies the other day. I had only known a little bit of their folklore previously. I thought I'd share a bit of triviata...
Genie is the English term for the Arabic word jinni -- coincidently, the two terms are unrelated: the English term actually traces back to the Latin word genius, meaning spirit.
The belief in genies traces back to the Semites, who believed jinn were "spirits of vanished ancient peoples" who came out at night but disappear with the first light of dawn. They could make themselves invisible at will or shape-shift into animals. According to sorcery, jinn have free will but can be compelled to perform both good and evil acts:
"Knowing what to ask a spirit to perform is key, as asking a spirit to perform a chore that runs counter to its natural tendencies could possibly anger the spirit into retaliating against the sorcerer".
Also, jinn are classified into four races -- Earth, Air, Fire and Water -- and organized by tribes (usually: seven), each with a king.
Why do I find this cool? Because it reminds me of the Tuatha Dé Danann (leprechauns). How much folklore is based on previous inhabitants? For all we know, the Tuatha Dé Danann were stone-aged inhabitants of Ireland who practiced sorcery and were eventually worshipped as supernatural beings once they were wiped out? How do we know that genies weren't merely pre-Semitic inhabitants of the Middle East?
I love history and mythology. I especially like it when the two mix...
7 years ago
3 comments:
I've always liked the spelling "djinn". Something about two consonants mashed up together that normally aren't, I guess.
Plus, my name starts with "D".
Coincidently, I watched a Three Stooges movie called, "Three Arabian Nuts" ... and in it the Stooges call the genie the "genius of the lamp"
Who ever said we would learn nothing from the stooges?
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