As told in Ancient Arabic Mythology, there is a story in the Arabian Nights of three princes--brothers--who wished to marry the same princess. They were each to travel the world for a year, and the one who returned with the greatest rarity would win the maiden's hand. One of the three treasures was a piece of tapestry that if one sat on it would instantly transport the person anywhere he wished.
One of them discovers a magic fruit that cured sick people of most mortal diseases. One sniff was enough to do the job. The prince was able to save the princess's life with it, having been transported to the fruit on his brother's magic carpet.[1]
One of the princes came upon a telescope, and it was through its power that they were able to discover their princess near death. They then flew the magic carpet to her side and cured her with the magic fruit.
Behind the scenes
The book is also know as the One Thousand and One Knights and is the source of Scheherazade.
Some of the stories very widely associated with The Nights, in particular "Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp", "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves", and "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor" were not part of The Nights in its original Arabic versions, but were added to the collection by Antoine Galland and other European translators.
- ↑ KQC, 2nd Edition, 482