The tale of Aladdin is one the most well known in the world, famous for many years before the
popular Disney interpretation. But the origin of Aladdin and his adventure may just surprise you,
as well as just how different the original story was. Two genies, set in China, written in France,
murder and kidnapping – is any of the story similar to the one we have come to know?
Let’s find out together, right now.
The story of Aladdin is commonly believed to have originated in a famous text known as the ‘The
Arabian Nights’ or ‘One Thousand and One Nights’, an enchanting and magical collection of folk tales
of Middle Eastern origin. Whilst this is partially correct, the truth is a little more complicated.
Aladdin, along with another famous tale Ali Baba and the forty thieves,
were actually added into the French translation of ‘The Arabian Nights’ original manuscript by
the French writer Antoine Galland in 1712. There are no records of the story before
this version. So, was this man the true creator of Aladdin and the magical lamp? Perhaps not.
Following the discovery of the personal diary of Galland, it was revealed that he had been told the
story of Aladdin by a Syrian traveller named Hanna Diyab. The two men met in the apartment of the
well-known adventurer, explorer and tomb raider Paul Lucas where Galland asked the young Syrian
if he knew any “Arabian Nights” stories. Diyab said he did. Over a series of one-on-one meetings,
Diyab told Galland the story of Aladdin. For many years following its publication, scholars
doubted the existence of Diyab, many believing Diyab himself to be a fabrication of Galland.
Infact, it wasn’t until as recent as 1993 that Gallands account was finally confirmed by the
discovery of the personal memoir of Hanna Diyab. So who was this man who so casually recounted
a tale that would become one of the most well know in the world.
A Maronite Catholic, fluent in French, Italian and his native language, Diyab worked in his home
city Aleppo aiding merchants. After an encounter with Paul Lucas, on a royal quest to find ancient
treasures, Diyab was enticed. Promised a potential job in France (which didn’t happen), Diyab left
Aleppo to travel around the world despite the consternation of his family members. The men
travelled extensively together and ended up in Paris in 1708 where Diyab eventually met Galland.
Many historians have noted the similarities between Diyab and Aladdin’s life. Diyab lost his
father as a teen. He went on an expedition after meeting Lucas, he was a believer in the powers of
alchemy which may have appeared magical and he even raided a tomb acquiring an antique lamp.
So could it be that Aladdin was actually based on the life of Diyab himself?
Many now believe that the character was certainly heavily inspired by Diyab’s own experiences,
with of course some magical flourishes thrown in. So what was the original story of ‘Aladdin
and his wonderful lamp’ as told by Hanna Diyab. Let’s dive in.
In this version, Aladdin is a lazy child, living with his mother in poverty in a Chinese town.
Of course, a Chinese setting is not one that most people are familiar with for the story of Aladdin,
and indeed there is a strange mix of cultures present in the original telling. Other than the
manuscript stating that the story takes place in China, most other references are of a Middle
Eastern nature with the ruler referred to as Sultan and most characters portrayed as Muslims.
It has been suggested by some scholars that, in early Arabic stories,
China is known to have been used in an abstract sense to simply designate an exotic, faraway land.
Aladdin’s father is revealed to have died, and Aladdin and his mother now struggle to survive.
One day, an African magician approaches Aladdin while the boy plays in the streets. Claiming to
be the boy's uncle, he recruits Aladdin to work with him, insisting he will be able to turn him
into a wealthy merchant afterwards. Aladdin's mother believes the lie, and gives her permission.
Aladdin agrees, and the magician leads him to a booby-trapped cave. There, he instructs
Aladdin to fetch an oil lamp from within, not explaining that the cave's spells require the
magician to receive the lamp from another. He grants Aladdin a magic ring for protection.
Aladdin enters the cave and successfully finds the lamp, however he refuses to send it out to
the magician before he leaves the cave. In a fit of rage, the magician traps Aladdin inside,
still holding the lamp. After two days miserable and alone, Aladdin accidentally rubs the ring
the magician gave him, and a jinn (or genie) appears. At the boy's mercy, the genie from the
ring asks what Aladdin wants, who tells him he wishes to be taken home. The genie complies and
using his magic, transports Aladdin from the cave. Back home, Aladdin's mother attempts to clean the
lamp so they can sell it. When she rubs it, an even more powerful genie appears,
promising to do their bidding. Two genies for the price of one. It is always good to have a spare.
They request something to eat, and the lamp genie brings them an amazing feast.
Though Aladdin's mother fears they are cavorting with devils, Aladdin insists
they take advantage of their good fortune. They live in prosperity for years in this way,
until one day Aladdin catches sight of the sultan's daughter, and decides he must marry
her. He sends his mother to the sultan's palace with some jewels conjured by the lamp genie to
impress the sultan into approving his marriage to the beautiful princess. Amazed by the display
of wealth, the sultan agrees, though the sultan's greedy vizier convinces him to wait three months,
hoping his own son can woo the princess with an even greater gift during that time.
Two months later, Aladdin learns that the vizier's son has indeed won the princess for his bride.
Outraged, he demands the genie transport the bride and groom to him on the night of their
wedding. The couple is transported in their bed, and the genie sends the vizier's son outside while
Aladdin spends the night with the princess. The next morning, the bed is transported back and the
bewildered son returned. This process is repeated for a few nights, terrifying the married couple.
Believing themselves cursed, they tell the sultan what has happened, and decide to separate.
One month later (at the end of the original three-month period), Aladdin's mother reminds
the sultan of his promise, and he agrees to marry his daughter to Aladdin, who has the lamp genie
create a magnificent palace for their home. From his home in Africa, the magician hears
of this story, and realizes that Aladdin must have survived and kept the lamp.
So one day, when Aladdin is away, he travels to the palace disguised as a merchant who is trading
new, polished lamps for old ones. The sultan's daughter falls for the ruse, and unaware of its
special properties, gives him the magic lamp. The magician immediately uses the lamp genie to
transport the palace and princess back to Africa. Shocked, the sultan threatens to kill Aladdin if
he does not bring the princess back within forty days. Luckily Aladdin still has the magic ring
and his backup genie, so he uses its magic to transport him to Africa. There,
he and the princess prepare a plan. She dresses alluringly one night and swears she has forgotten
Aladdin. Excited, the magician pours some fine wine, which she then drugs to kill him. The couple
then steals the lamp and returns home to China. One more twist in the tale remained however,
as the magician had a brother, who was even more wicked. Bent on revenge,
the magician's brother disguises himself as a holy woman and visits the palace. There, he convinces
the princess that the place would benefit from having a hanging roc's egg. She begs Aladdin
to request this from the genie, which he does. However, this request angers the genie, since
the roc is his master. He threatens to destroy the palace in his rage, but quickly surmises that
Aladdin must have been tricked by the magician's brother. He warns them of the danger, and Aladdin
locates and kills the impostor once and for all. Finally, they are able to live happily ever after.
Aladdin eventually becomes sultan and reigns for many happy years.
Quite a different tale then, with a few dramatic and dark plot points that were left out of more
recent versions. Whichever tale you know, the newer ones or the original, Aladdin remains a
classic rags to riches story that has captured the imagination of millions for many centuries.
If you were to take one thing away from this magical tale, perhaps make it this.
Always ensure you have a backup genie to get you out of trouble.