Illustration by Walter Crane

To tell the history of Alibaba is to tell the story of the "Arabian Nights" stories. From a 14th Century Syrian text called 1001 Nights the European world fell in love with Middle Eastern wonder stories.

AliBaba has long captured imaginations worldwide, with its themes of family, goodness and treasure. But where did it arrive from? Is it Arabic, Greek, or possibly completely composed by a European in love with the city of Baghdad.

Music by ¡para!helion

To read a translation of 1001 Night from the original Arabic I recommend this version by Hussain Haddawy

Read The Tales

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