#djinn is arabian mythology

[factoidfactory]

Random Fact #6,371

Genie being blue in the live-action Disney remake of Aladdin is actually canonically and culturally accurate.

Djinn are traditionally depicted as having brightly-coloured skin.

^ Imam Ali Conquers Djinn, unknown artist (1568) Golestan Palace

#did you know #random factoid #random factoids #little known fact #random fact #random facts #yes really #djinn #mythology #1001 arabian nights #muslim mythology #religious art

[gods-and-monsters04]

Here’s a continuation of the various pieces of concept art from the video game adaptation of Van Helsing.

Without further comment, let’s proceed!

Here’s some artwork of a Banshee. It’s giving me strong John Carpenter’s The Thing vibes. Especially with the gargantuan maw of teeth around the torso, scary stuff.

Another recurring enemy type in these mouthless husks, huh that’s a pretty cool name. Possibly poor villagers who were victims of Dracula and his Brides, mostly due to their attire implying they were once human. It also seems that might levitate, given how their feet are off the ground.

Here’s a full body and head study of a creature called a Hell Wolf. Whither it’s something similar to a Hell Hound but a Wolf, or a Wolf that has been a subject of Dracula’s evil. Regardless this is one gnarly beast, but it won’t be the last.

Here’s a image of what appears to be a monstrously large Owl, based off the little writing on the piece this creature is a “Ghost Owl.”

Here’s the last variant of a normal animal turned supernatural, what appears to be a undead Bear. Possibly something similar to the Hell Wolf before but a bear.

Now this is interesting! What appears to be a creature made out of shadow and or darkness, dual wielding swords. Based off their appearance of the swords, they seem similar to scimitars. Is it possible that these shadow creatures are Djinn? Given how in Arabian mythology Djinn are demons made of smoke or fire, which would also explain the design of the swords.

Sorry to end this with something of a dud, but the other pieces are too good to leave behind. I just don’t have enough space to ad them here. A flying burning skull breathing fire from its mouth.

#van helsing 2004 #van helsing #creature design #concept art #stephen sommers

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Spice Road Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What does your magic tea taste like? ❓

[ Find my review below or: Stoygraph | Goodreads | Literal ]

🦇 In Qalia, a desert city hidden from outsiders, secret spice unlocks power within those who drink misra tea. Seventeen-year-old Imani wields her iron affinity and dagger like no other, earning her reputation as the Djinni Slayer. Like the city's other Shields, Imani has sworn to fight against the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and monsters that lurk in the sands beyond. After her brother steals their nation's coveted spice and disappears, it's believed he died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, only for a djinn to claim otherwise. Imani strikes a deal with the djinn to find her brother, accompanied by Taha (a powerful beastseer and Imani's rival) and other Shields. Can they find Imani's brother before his betrayal leads to Qalia's downfall?

💜 As this is my top read of 2023, I'm not even sure where to begin. Our favorite books are often the most difficult to review. Set in an Arabian-inspired land, Spice Road is a reminder that our real power comes from family; that magic and strength are always within us. Imani is an admirable force, not because of her reputation as a powerful Shield and djinn slayer, but because she holds steadfast to her beliefs--even when it's to her own detriment. Despite her strength, she's flawed and human as well; privileged, ignorant, and stubborn, all which blind her to the truth in front of her. Maiya Ibrahim has woven a stunning, vivid tapestry between her world-building and word choice. I had to keep myself from going annotation crazy, which says plenty. There's so much to this story beyond the adventure, fantasy, family bonds, or lush Middle Eastern mythology, though. Take this quote:

💜 ❝ But then they expel us from our ancestral homes, they steal our businesses, they take control of our most lucrative trades, they dedicate our temples to their gods, they speak their tongue in the streets, and they have the nerve to tell us things are better and more peaceful this way. Before you know it, there will be nothing left for us. ❞

🦇 The themes of occupation and colonialism fit as naturally into this story as the magic; themes that are too important to ignore, given what's been happening in Palestine for decades. This incredible, dazzling debut, while a fantasy, is a reminder to the real-world depths behind a rebellion.

🦇 One of the most discussion-worthy components of this story is Imani's internal struggle. She stubbornly believes her brother's motives must have been just, even though sharing misra and the secret behind their magic goes against everything they'd ever been taught. She also remains blind to how people are treated in Qalia based on different clans and positions; truths Taha urges her to see. However, Taha's own motivations draw a constant line between them, leaving Imani to learn these truths alone.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes), Hafsah Faizal (We Hunt the Flame), Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen) and of course, magic. I can't wait for this series to continue. Give me all the Arabian mythology!

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🔥 First in a Series 🔥 Magic, Djinn, and Monsters 🔥 Epic Fantasy 🔥 Slow Burn Rivals to Lovers 🔥 Enemies to Lovers 🔥 Family Feels/Sibling Bonds 🔥 Arabic-Inspired Fantasy World 🔥 Love Triangle Set-Up

💬 Quotes 💬 ❝ We will fight, but first we will have tea. ❞ ❝ The truth is the thorn, not the rose. ❞ ❝ Light not shared is light diminished. ❞

#book reader #book reviews #book review #booklr #book blog #book lovers #favorite books #books #book reading #book recommendation #fantasy fiction #fantasy books #fantasy #book: spice road #author: maiya ibrahim #batty about books #battyaboutbooks #enemies to lovers #workplace rivals #rivals to lovers #slow burn #epic fantasy #book series: spice road

[randomthefox]

That a cool im kind of confuse about erazor djinn,merlina, time eater and the end representation

Erazor Djinn is obviously based on Djinn or Jinns from arabian mythology, aka genies. Djinn's can be good or evil just like humans, and Shahra herself is also a djinn. Of course Erazor being NAMED Djinn while Shahra is more presented as a classical wish granting Genie is deliberately being done to present the idea of a "djinn" as being inherently malevolent, while a genie is more benevolent. Considering both words are just anglicisations anyway and the original arabic word is جِنّ this is obviously a fine way to interpret it into english. Pre-islam, djinn's were essentially personal spirits that were worshiped in private as opposed to gods which were worshiped in public, although we don't have all that many historical documentation on the specifics of this. After the rise of Islam, djinns were rolled into the Abrahamic hierarchy and are on a lower rank compared to angels, and in modern mythology Djinn are essentially always portrayed as demons or evil trickster spirits (very similar to how pagan holdovers are portrayed in a negative light by christian storytellers).

Merlina is based on Merlin and also probably Morgan le Fay, as befitting of her role in the story as initially presenting herself as a mentor and guide for Sonic (who is King Arthur) only to reveal herself as the true villain and final boss as Morgan was a reoccurring antagonist of King Arthur. Given the name, Morgan was probably a fae entity of some kind and in some texts is even referred to as a nymph. Faeries in celtic and britanic tradition are a whooooole fucking thing I don't have time to get into lol. But again given christianizations tendency to take pagan traditional beliefs and incorporate it into biblical mythology for the sake of portraying it as a falsehood or evil in some way, it makes sense to take the Morgan le Fay character and portray her as this malevolent fairy creature that wants to trap the world of Camelot in a timeless limbo. That's pretty classical fae shenanigans. Once Sonic sets her straight, she recalls her Father who was Merlin with fondness while holding a flower, and Merlin is a pretty straight forward Druid (again, discounting christianization and Robert de Boron which turns him into a prophet of the holy grail). So she's definitely got a food in both circles, I'd say.

The Time Eater is pretty Lovecraftian I'd say. It reminds me of the Color Out Of Space, especially in the state we see it in before Eggman hijacks it. It is your typical eldritch entity and a being that exists outside of linear time, though I don't know if it can be said to have any specific inspirations beyond that.

The End is a God of Death and looks like the moon because various cultures viewed the moon as a symbol of death. This also puts it in stark contrast to Solaris which was a Sun God. Specifically the cycle of death and rebirth is symbolized by the moon in the way that is has difference phases of visibility throughout the year and the way those phases effect the tides. And death and rebirth is a big theme of Sonic Frontiers, particularly with the Koco and Sage's entire storyline which appropriate ends with her sacrificing herself to defeat The End before being reborn in the post credits scene. It is very similar to Dark Gaia in that it wipes the slate clean, and Tails even directly compares the power of The End to Dark Gaia in the game. Of note that in most mythologies the moon is often (but not always) presented as female, and the sun is usually (but not always) male. The End speaks with both male and female voices at the same time. It is also of course very eldritchian as well, as it only APPEARS as a moon to our mortal comprehension and we are incapable of perceiving it as it actually is, and the form that Sonic and Sage destroy is only an aspect of its true self. It is PROBABLY not inherently malevolent, just inherently destructive, and the way it is in the game is likely just because it was pissy over being imprisoned for countless eons and not perceiving mortality as having any inherent value which again speaks very much to Lovecrafian influence.

#sonic #sonic the hedgehog

[whumpwillow]

genie related tropes

from tvtropes

Genie in a Bottle: A genie who's trapped in a bottle or lamp and grants wishes to whoever frees them.

a species of spiritual beings, somewhere in between angels and mankind, capable of great acts, both good and evil

Some of the greatest magicians in Arabic lore were able to capture jinn to their service, and tied them to items such as lamps or rings.

Jinn were not usually obligated to give wishes to whoever helped them; if they did, it would be out of gratitude or an incentive to open the bottle.

If they were bound to their prison, jinn were slaves to their owners but did not have any reality warping powers

the "wish" was more like a command, and the jinn simply used their incredible powers to do their master's bidding

may have powers they can use themselves, but nowhere near what they can do if a human says "I wish..." first.

Immortality: In popular Western media, genies are often immortal beings.

Long-Lived: In both the original Middle Eastern folklore and more modern Western depictions, genies have extremely long lifespans, if they're not outright immortal.

Instant Allegiance Artifact: A known weakness with most Genies, their loyalty to a Master can flip if their Vessel/Lamp/Bottle is stolen, be it through full on Evil Personality Takeover or Obligation to Obey.

Super Smoke: A standard genie power. Turning into smoke is often the prerequisite for exiting from (or slipping into) tiny lamps or bottles. This led to the common representation of genies lacking legs and feet, the lower body still being vaporous while the upper body is solid.

Three Wishes: In more modern works, a genie will typically grant these. However, the idea of three wishes actually comes from unrelated Celtic mythology. In older Arabian folklore, the genie can typically be used an unlimited number of times.

Wishplosion: Defeating a genie by making certain wishes which cause some sort of paradox, which may undo all previous wishes.

Freeing the Genie: Wishing for a genie's freedom.

Becoming the Genie: When making too many wishes causes someone to become a genie themselves.

Benevolent Genie: A genie who's friendly and will faithfully grant their master's wish.

A Benevolent Genie will attempt to fulfill the spirit of the master's wish.

Typically, jinn who do their best to follow their master's true wish will tend to fall into the hands of villains who will exploit them egregiously.

Literal Genie: A genie who gives you what you asked for as opposed to what you actually wanted.

will follow your wish's Exact Words, which usually means that it will backfire if not worded carefully.

Jackass Genie: A genie who deliberately misinterprets a wish out of cruelty or spite or makes it so their master's wish is granted at a terrible price.

Genie jackassery is a natural repercussion of the original mythologies, where most wish-granting djinn are faeries enslaved by sorcerers and are rather unhappy with their servitude. As such, they will take every opportunity to screw over their master.

will fulfill the worst possible interpretation, no matter how carefully you attempt to word it.

#obvs not tryna disrespect anyone's culture or mythology #i just saw that the tag for this type of whumpee was empty so i thought i'd make more content for it #genie whumper #genie whumpee #genie whump #whump #whump prompt #whump prompts #whumpee #whump tropes #whump ideas #ITS INDENTED WHEN I EDIT THE POST BUT NOT WHEN ITS ACTUALLY POSTED #AKJDH;FIUEPJKD

[snowboyclarkov]

Beyblade Burst - Main Antagonist Introductions

Beyblade Burst has a series called Meet The Bladers, which goes through certain people in the series and describes them. It often includes scenes of the people themselves from episodes. This post is a collection of all the introductions of the main antagonist bladers who have been part of the Meet The Bladers series. Before that, a list of who I consider to be the main antagonists, listed per season.

Disc 1 refers to someone who takes the role until the true main antagonist comes along, whether as a rival, a minor villain, or any other role. An antagonist is not a villain and can even be an ally/friend of the protagonist that they battle.

As it is for bladers only, there was nothing of this kind for Theodore Glass. Weirdly, Arthur Peregrine doesn't have one despite being the overarching main antagonist of Rise/GT. Shu and Spryzen are listed on the same line as Spryzen possessed Shu and became the main blading antagonist alongside its blader.

Shu Kurenai (Burst - Disc 1)

Lui Shirosagi (Burst)

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Free de la Hoya (Evolution - Disc 1)

Joshua Burns (Evolution - Disc 1)

Shu Kurenai (Evolution) | Spryzen (Evolution)

Kurt Baratier (Evolution)

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Valt Aoi (Turbo - Disc 1)

Hyde (Turbo - Disc 1)

Phi (Turbo)

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Delta Zakuro (Rise - Disc 1)

Arthur Peregrine (Rise)

Gwyn Reynolds (Rise)

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Lain Valhalla (Surge)

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Rashad Goodman (QuadDrive)

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Pax Forsythe (QuadStrike)

The lines in which there is no name attributed, and are in italic, are those said by the narrator of the Meet The Bladers series.

Lui Shirosagi | Lost Lúinor Nine Spiral (The Spear of Ruin - Judeo-Christian mythology - Basis: St. Longinus and his Holy Spear)

Hanami: He's won 4 National Tournaments in a row, and he's one terrifying force of nature. Please welcome Lui Shirosagi!

Crowd: *Cheering*

Nika: He's the one who beat Shu?

Right, and their rivalry's intense. See, Lui's frighteningly powerful and he knows it.

Lui: I only accept an opponent's challenge if they seem like they'd be worth the effort.

To him, other bladers are just waiting to be beaten.

Lui: You're a terrible blader.

Valt: Huh?!

Totally reckless, (Lui: Heh heeeh.) Lui couldn't care less what happens to anyone (Valt: Aah!) as long as HE wins.

Valt: You almost hit me, dude.

Lui: Ha, whatever.

Lui/Valt: Let it rip!

Lui's bey is an incredibly unique attack type. Lost Lúinor spins counter-clockwise. It's most trusted move?

Lui: Lost Spiral!

Lúinor: *Roars*

Watch Lui and let it rip on Beyblade Burst.

Lui: I'm gonna smash your dreams into bits!

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Joshua Burns | Blast Jinnius 5Glaive Guard (The Wind Genie - Arabian/Islamic mythology - Basis: The Jinn/Djinn/Genie)

Today, we're taking a look at one of the strongest teams in the world, America's Raging Bulls. Their owner, Theodore Glass, is always 5 steps ahead of the curve. (Free/Shu: Rip!) He cherry-picks (Fafnir: *Roars*) top talents to beef up (Spryzen: *Roars*) the Bulls roster. For instance, Japan's wonderkid, Shu Kurenai.

Raging Bulls Staff Member: He's won more matches than the two of you combined.

Then, Glass poached the world champion of Beyblade, Free de la Hoya.

Theodore: I've got very high hopes for your performance.

These days Glass has tapped up blockbuster movie star and Beyblade supernova to be the captain of the Bulls, the inimitable...

Joshua: Joshua. Heh. Joshua Burns.

Joshua: We're ready!

Word is, Joshua joined the Raging Bulls just to prove himself to Free. Free's kind of his idol.

Joshua: Wait! Free! I'm coming! We'll grab lunch! Do you eat lunch?!

And Joshua definitely has a reputation to uphold. He's one of the Big 5, the top bladers in the world. His bey, Blast Jinnius, is a defence type featuring two techniques loaded with star power. Cyclone Wall raises Jinnius during battle to keep it free from harm.

Joshua: Time to end this thing!

Then, it's curtains with Cyclone Counter. Jinnius' layer slams down on its opponent with a powerful show-stopping strike. Can Joshua take the Raging Bulls to the top of the box office?

Joshua: I smell a best actor nod!

Watch Joshua and the Raging Bulls and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Free de la Hoya | Drain Fafnir 8 Nothing (The Golden Dragon - Norse mythology - Basis: The cursed dragon/worm Fáfnir)

Check it out! It's Free de la Hoya.

Valt: You recognise that guy?

Rantaro: The world's top blader? Of course I do.

Not only is he the captain and secret weapon of BC Sol, Free is a blader of seemingly superhuman abilities. I know, I know. He's not what you'd expect.

Free: *Yawns*

Valt: He seems so... bored.

Rantaro: Uh, dude? You look like you've been hypnotised or something.

Lots of people think Free's a bit of a space case. Not so! He just, uh, marches to the beat of his own drum. As BC Sol's owner, Kris is one of few who truly understands Free.

Trad: Hey, Free! Pay attention!

Kristina: No, never mind. Just leave him.

At first glance, Free may seem lazy, but he trains harder than anyone else. He's unique in every way. Even Free's bey launch is one of a kind.

Valt: Where's your launcher?

Free: Not using one.

Valt: Huh?

Speaking of his bey, Drain Fafnir, it may look shaky, but it gets stronger each time its hit by a clockwise-spinning bey.

Free: I'm absorbing your power.

Silas: No bey can do that!

Free: Well, mine can.

Free: Rip!

Because of his out-of-this-world skill, plenty of teams have their eyes on Free.

Theodore: What a shame he's on the wrong side. He'll come to us.

Free loves BC Sol more than anyone, and he'll do whatever it takes to help his team, even... leave?

Valt: *Gasp*

Shasa/Rantaro: *Gasp*

Kit/Honey: *Gasp*

Free: See ya around.

Watch to find out just what Free is up to next on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Shu Kurenai | Legend Spryzen 7 Merge (The Protector Giant - Cornish mythology - Basis: The Spriggan)

Spryzen (possessing Shu Kurenai) | Spryzen Requiem 0 Zeta (The Protector Giant - Cornish mythology - Basis: The Spriggan)

Version 1:

Introducing Shu Kurenai.

Reporter: Many are calling him the most talented blader to emerge in over a decade.

A member of the Supreme 4, the greatest bladers in the country, he gets the game inside and out.

Toko: Awesome!

Nika: He's so cool!

(Fangirls: *Fangirling*) Beloved by fans the world over...

Nika: Shu, we love you!

...Shu Kurenai is a Beyblade superstar. But fame hasn't changed him. Shu remains humble, hard-working and trains all the time. With his bey Storm Spryzen and their amazing signature move Counter Break, (Spryzen: *Roars*) Shu's putting a new spin on the game that's all his own. But above all, Shu is cool, cool, cool!

Valt: What do you say?

Shu: I'm not really a club-joining kind of guy.

Valt: Aaah?

That's a classic cool guy move.

Valt (muffled due to mouth being full): What do you call this stuff?

Shu: It's called spaghetti carbonara.

(Valt: Mmm! Oh!) And he can cook too?!

Watch Shu and let it rip on Beyblade Burst!

Shu: Hmm.

Version 2:

Shu Kurenai is missing.

Valt/Rantaro: Huh?!/Ah!

Wakiya: I know where to start our search!

Wakiya: I've found it.

Deep in the dangerous jungles of Mexico...

Daigo/Rantaro: Hm?

Snake: *Hiss*

Valt: Aaaaaaaaah!

...Rumours tell of a secret Beyblade society. Their single-minded objective to train the strongest, most savage bladers (Two snakes: *Hiss*) of all time. This is the (Snake: *Hiss*) Snake Pit.

Security: Enter if you dare.

(Snake Pit bladers: Ah!) Here, only the strong survive.

Snake Pit bladers: *Sounds of hard training.*

Theodore/Black Eye: Failures must leave./*Gasp* Aa!

Black Eye: Aaaah!

No underground society would be complete without a shady ruler.

Theodore: You may call me Ashtem.

And his shadier disciples. Hey, those beys look familiar.

Daigo: They're just like ours.

They've got shadow versions of everyone's beys?! Who ARE these copycat bladers? Ashtem's most powerful disciple is...

Shu: Red Eye, and my bey is... Legend Spryzen.

Valt: Huh?!

Hey! That's Shu Kurenai's bey! What's going on here?!

Shu: I know how to harness its true strength.

Legend Spryzen is a balance-type bey that can spin both clockwise AND counter-clockwise.

Shu: Axe Launch!

Spryzen: *Roars*

Valt: Aa- aa.

Is there any stopping Red Eye (Spryzen: *Roars*) and the rest of the Snake Pit? Find out on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Kurt Baratier | Boom Khalzar 7Under Hunter (The Hurricane Bird God - Mayan mythology - Basis: The war serpent deity Kukulkan)

Bisuke: Hooligans, punks and goons, draw near! Time for you to cheer as your dear Emperor is here.

Kurt's gang: *Cheering*

Introducing the one and only Kurt Baratier. Before Free became (Free: Rip!) number one, Kurt Baratier, (Kurt: Heh heh heh) a.k.a. The Emperor, (Kurt: Let it rip!) was the world's top blader.

Kurt: I rule the blading world.

He reigned over the rankings without a single loss to his name. Having risen to the top of his game, Kurt grew bored with the official tournaments, then one day, he left the blading world altogether. He began battling in an underground blading ring with seriously high stakes.

Kurt: If Valt loses, I take his bey. It's that simple.

This is where Kurt holds court over his motley crew of loyal subjects.

Bisuke: Coming through, out of the way! Didn't anyone ever teach you to make way for royalty?

Bladers: Nnh?

Bisuke: Ngeeheheheheheeh.

His bey, Boom Khalzar, is a high-speed attack type.

Kurt: Arise, Khalzar!

Khalzar: *Roars*

It commands 2 regal techniques, Thunder Attack and...

Kurt: Bolt Attack!

Now, Kurt's returned to official Beyblade competition (Crowd: *Cheering*) as a (Kurt: Hnn hnn) wild card in the (Bisuke: Yeah!) International Bladers Cup. (Gang member: Show no mercy!) But why? Has The Emperor set his royal sights on reclaiming his crown? (Khalzar: *Roars*)

Kurt: Be very afraid. Things are only going to get worse from here on in.

Watch Kurt and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Valt Aoi | Wonder Valtryek 12 Volcanic + Turbo Valtryek Zenith Evolution (The Battle Goddess - Norse mythology - Basis: The Valkyrie)

Valt: *Gasp*

Valt: Let's do this thing!

This is (Valt: Yeeeaaaah!) Valt Aoi.

Valt: I'm gonna crush this!

Yeah, (Valt: *Gasp*) Valt's enthusiasm and energy are way off the charts.

Valt: Alright!

Sometimes, it makes up for the fact he (Valt: Aaaaaagh!) tends to lose his cool. Valt's heart's in the right place, and he's a great communicator.

Valt: *Imitating a bey battle*

He makes friends wherever he goes. Even with his toughest Beyblade rivals. Beyblade is everything to Valt, (Valt: Let it rip!) and with his bey, Victory Valtryek, (Valt: Let's go!) and their awesome signature moves...

Valt: It's time for a Rush Launch!

...They may be headed... to the top of their game.

Valt: Together we're gonna become the best Beyblade team in the world!

Join Valt and let it rip on Beyblade Burst!

Valt: Time for my happy dance.

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Hyde | Dread Hades 11Turn Zephyr' (The Underworld God - Greek mythology - Basis: The underworld deity Hades)

Phi | Revive Phoenix 10 Friction + Dread Phoenix 10 Friction (The Immortal Bird - Greek mythology - Basis: The Phoenix)

They say he appeared from a fallen meteor.

Naru: Wait, do you think he's an alien?

No matter what the rumours say, the facts are, Phi is one terrifying opponent.

Phi: It seems your eyes have seen something they never should have stumbled upon.

His bey, Revive Phoenix, is a defence-type bey with a mind-blowing secret.

Aiger: We did it! Nngh. It didn't burst.

That's right. The first time Phoenix bursts it only loses its outer armour. It can even use its armour as a weapon.

Phi: Revive Crush!

Phi draws his power as a blader from his intense resonance with Phoenix. He senses a similar connection between Aiger & Achilles and it fascinates him.

Phi: Seems Achilles wants to battle as much as we do.

But Phi's not the only one who's noticed there's something about Aiger.

Hyde: Ah, so this is why Phi wanted to toy with him.

Phi's twin brother Hyde and his bey Dread Hades have also taken an interest in Aiger's power. A balance-type, Hades is one of the heaviest beys in existence. But its strength is never more obvious than when Hyde's using...

Hyde: Dread Gravity!

Hades encircles its opponent, smashing them around like a bey-shaped pinball. These techniques are driven by Hyde's own warped resonance with Hades.

Hyde: What magnificent power! Now this is true resonance!

With that kind of intensity, it's no surprise that these brothers have taken sibling rivalry to a whole new level. As children, they fought over who would get (Hyde: Ah, I want this one!) Hades... and Phi lost. That resentment fuels the tension between them to this day.

Phi: You shall lose everything!

Tempers are boiling over as Phi finally exacts his revenge and takes back what's his. Keep watching to find out how far Phi & Phoenix will go on Beyblade Burst Turbo!

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Delta Zakuro | Venom/Erase Devolos Vanguard Bullet + Master Devolos Generate (The Devil Dragon - Judeo-Christian mythology - Basis: Satan)

Endless style and talent, burning passion, Delta Zakuro's got it all.

Delta: Nnh!

But what he doesn't have is patience for bladers who aren't on his level.

Delta: You're a nuisance.

Delta puts in hours of hard work to be the best, and the fruits of his labour shine through when he battles.

Delta: Go, Devolos!

Devolos is a balance-type that can alternate between two modes, the clockwise-spinning Venom Devolos and the counter-clockwise-spinning Erase Devolos. So no one has any idea how he'll attack... unless he tells them.

Delta: I'm going with Erase Devolos.

Kinda like that. When they unleash their signature move...

Delta: Dual Phantom!

Devolos' tip splits in two! The small clone then attacks their opponent while Devolos focuses on spinning.

Delta: Devolos is going to swallow up all of your light!

Devolos: I'm starving!

The blading world better watch out 'cause these two are a force to be reckoned with.

Watch Delta & Devolos and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Rise!

Delta: Only one star in the sky can shine the brightest.

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Arthur Peregrine | Prime Apocalypse 0Dagger Ultimate Reboot' (The Sword of the End - Judeo-Christian mythology - Basis: The dragon that bestowed power upon The Beast and caused the Apocalypse)

ERROR 404 - Meet The Bladers episode not found.

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Gwyn Reynolds | Royal Genesis Hybrid + Eclipse Genesis Hybrid (The Beginning Shield - Judeo-Christian mythology - Basis: The origin of life known as the Genesis)

Mystery + intelligence + a mastery of hyperphysics = Gwyn Reynolds, an enigmatic math whiz with a knack for solving the toughest of equations. As a newcomer to the blading world, Gwyn's inspiration to battle was brought to life when he witnessed Dante and Delta's face-off with Arthur Peregrine.

Gwyn: You know, Beyblade... might just be fun.

Even with his Royal Genesis undefeated, Gwyn never stopped reaching for something more.

Gwyn: It's complete. Eclipse Genesis.

Eclipse Genesis is a defence-type with a Burst Prevention System, making its super high defences that much tougher to crack, and nothing says defence like blowing your opponents away!

Gwyn: Eclipse Pulse!

Gwyn thinks he's got it all figured out, but can Dante inspire him one more time?

Watch Gwyn & Genesis and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Rise!

Gwyn: Finally... I found the answer.

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Lain Valhalla | Vex Lucius Mobius 2D + Lucius Endbringer Kou Drift (The Fallen Angel - Judeo-Christian mythology - Basis: The fallen archangel Lucifer)

A rookie blader is out to topple the blading legends and he's got one name.

Shu: Lain.

Hyuga: Lain!

Hikaru: Lain...

Senor: Lain Valhalla!

Lain: Nnnrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Lain's a powerhouse who came out of nowhere and he's trained by Shu Kurenai himself, so you know he's got skills.

Lain: There's nothing in this world I can't do.

Now, the blading legends are in his sights and he's not backing down.

Lain: Who needs legends? They're nothing but a waste of space!

But if he's going to take on the world's top bladers, he'll need a bey unlike any other.

Lain: The most powerful bey ever, Vex Lucius!

Vex Lucius is an indestructible defence-type. That's right. In-de-structible. When it unleashes Vexing Wall, nothing can even touch it. Powered by a raw energy he calls Flare, Lain continues to grow beyond his limits. But if no one can touch Lucius or Lain, who will stop his Flare from devouring him completely?

Watch Lain & Lucius and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Surge!

Lain: I'm gonna need you to up your game to fuel my Flare.

--------------------------------------------------

Rashad Goodman | Glory Regnar Over High Xtend+' (The Archangel of Light - Judeo-Christian mythology - Basis: The archangel/angel Raphael)

Make way! Make way! Beyblade's knight in shining armour has arrived. Rashad Goodman's always wanted to be just like his idol, Valt Aoi.

Rashad: I know everything about you and Valtryek. I mean it! I know more than anyone else.

And Valtryek made Rashad the blader he is today. Ernest, good-hearted and true, Rashad is a prime example of what a blader should be.

Rashad: Us bladers got to stick together, right?

But its his skill that earned Rashad the title of High Prince, and his partner Glory Regnar is the perfect crown.

Rashad: I'd like you to meet Glory Regnar.

Regnar is a balance-type bey. When it armours up with Glory Crown, it keeps its weak points out of harms way, making it nearly impossible to damage.

Rashad: I summon the brightest light, with Glory Crown!

The High Prince is a gallant blader who can do no wrong. He's a shining light to guide the way, a role model through and through.

Watch Rashad & Regnar and let it rip on Beyblade Burst QuadDrive.

Rashad: This is one step closer to my TRUE goal.

#beyblade burst #beyblade #meet the bladers #lui shirosagi #joshua burns #free de la hoya #shu kurenai #kurt baratier #valt aoi #hyde #phi #delta zakuro #arthur peregrine #gwyn reynolds #lain valhalla #rashad goodman #lui shirasagijo #joshua boon #kurtz baratier #hearts #arthur percival #gwyn ronny #lean walhalla

[seasealwaters]

Me: The Disney!Aladdins, while highly entertaining, are yet another misrepresentation of Arab customs, clothes, settings and culture, as all of these were heavily influenced by South Asian clothes and aesthetics in both movies rather than strictly Arabian; and while the original folktale (which wasn’t even a part of the One Thousand and One Nights text originally) does mention "China" or sometimes "India" as its setting depending on the version, this expression is more used as a way to refer to a faraway land in general rather than the specific country and culture (exactly like saying "once upon a time, in a faraway land"). Proof being that whatever the setting is said to be (China or India), everything about the story remains Middle Eastern: the ruler is called a Sultan instead of an Emperor; the magical being in the story is a djinn (not any other being in Chinese folklore and mythology), the names themselves are Arabic (Aladdin = علاء الدين, ʻAlāʼ ud-Dīn/ ʻAlāʼ ad-Dīn), etc. Thus, Aladdin is inherently an Arab story (and probably Syrian in origin as the earliest recollection we seem to have comes from the Maronite storyteller Antun Yusuf Hanna Diyab, who was from Aleppo – or at least, he transmitted the most well known version); and bringing up the "Chinese or Indian" argument is misunderstanding the use of the expression as literal rather than metaphorical. Unfortunately, this is misrepresented in the Disney animated movie as well as its live action remake.

Also me: ARABIAN NIIIIIIIIIGHTS, LIKE ARABIAN DAAAAAAAAAYS, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT ARE HOTTER THAN HOT IN A LOT OF GOOD WAAAAAAAAAYS

#arab culture #aladdin #disney aladdin #arabian nights #this song f slaps

[aryan-sachdeva]

DJINNS OF DELHI, EPISODE 10

Dastan-i-Delhi turns 1!! I started this blog with no intention to continue this blog this long but every time I posted anything, the response you people gave was just out of the world! So I want to thank you for your constant support and love towards my adventures. To Dastan-i-Delhi 🥂. So we finally come to the 10th blog! This adventure of mine to Firoz Shah Kotla Fort was one of the most mysterious yet fascinating adventures of them all. Let’s get into it, so my day began a bit late as scheduled because I overslept. The weather was flawless with little to no traffic. As I was crossing the beautiful streets of Connaught Place’s inner circle, I saw one of the most ravishing portraits I have ever seen.

The eyes of the portrait were so captivating that I got lost in it's beauty and stared at it for 5 minutes straight! The beauty of the portrayal can not be explained in words. I somehow managed to get my eyes out of the portrait and continued my expedition, not knowing the mysteries which were coming along the journey. I followed the maps and finally reached the infamous “Feroz Shah Kotla Fort”. The place had a strange vibe of solitude but I could feel some forces pulling me inside.

As I entered the ruins of the fort I couldn’t comprehend that I was walking the same way that kings, warriors, and saints would have walked. There were many abandoned gates and buildings which had a kind of vague mist. As I was moving around the bits of history I noticed two big buildings had a huge pillar on top of it. The buildings were truly fascinating and the architecture was just perfect.

As I was moving around the establishment, I felt a strange heat and a smell that was just like an old book coming from a dark place. I peeped through the old locked door and saw one of the most frightening hallways I have very seen.

There was a strange heat coming from the hallway and several bats flying around the place making those frightening noises. I looked down and noticed a pretty strange thing: there were papers around the floor, just like a letter, and they were around a jasmine flower garland.

There were many such kinds of letters around the area all wrapped around the same kind of jasmine Garland. For my curiosity, I zoomed into one of the letters to understand the real motive behind those letters and to whom they were addressed. The first line scared the living daylights out of me! (Address blurred)

The letter was addressed to Jinnat Badshah!! A strange nervousness drove into me after reading this name. Are stories about jinn and the mysterious lamp true? I asked myself for my readers not to know much about Jinns Jinn – also romanized as djinn or anglicized as a genie – are invisible creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian religious systems and later in Islamic mythology and theology. The famous Disney movie “Aladdin” is also based on the same concept. I somehow managed to get back to my senses and moved toward the second building to look for some answers.

I climbed the big stairs to reach an old mosque that was in a ruined state. I pushed open the old rustic door and entered a large complex where a great view of the whole premises was visible. I also saw some green-painted structures which are a common thing in the mosque as they pointed towards the direction of Madina.

As I was admiring the beauty of the place and looking for clues about the Djinn’s mystery I found another strange signboard that was instructing me not to light up a Chirag 🧞‍♂️

As I was still looking around the place I noticed a man in full white attire wearing a skull cap. I asked the man “Uncle, I want to know about the place”. He smiled and told me a lot about the place and also answered many of my questions. Here are some parts of our conversation.

“This place is an ancient city just like purani Dilli and Tughlakabad it was created by FIRUZ SHAH TUGHLAQ. The citadel contained places, pillared halls, a mosque a pigeon tower, and a baoli. Further, I asked him about the jinns and the letters written to them he said yes jinns do come to this place and read namaz. People write to them and attach a photograph of themselves at the top. Some people also perform exorcisms here for those who are believed to be under the spell of evil spirits.”

I returned from the mysterious place with many questions and some answers I researched a lot about the place and here are some of the answers. Those believing in Islam are of the view that while light created angels and clay created humans, djinns were brought to life by smokeless fire. (Here's a video)

And those believing in supernatural powers, come here, write letters stating their problems, and leave them behind for the supernatural powers to take care of. this story about djinns started in 1977 when people started flocking to the fort a few months after the Emergency. However, experts on supernatural theory state that djinns have been living here for the past four decades. People attach copies of the same letters, so that the djinn under whose jurisdiction the particular case falls, can take it up, Remember, the government of the djinns, is quite like ours. That’s why you have to make sure that the correct department gets your application. It is also believed that Djinns have a soft corner for women with long, luscious hair. People claim that Djinns get attracted to beautiful women and try to possess them. Myth has it that they live for thousands of years and can bear a family too, just like humans.

So, in a nutshell, it was the most mysterious yet memorable experience I hope you liked my small adventure chasing the Djinns of Delhi. With this blog, we complete 10 blogs of Dastan-i-Delhi!!! I’ll return with a new adventure soon. Keep Supporting!

Signing off

Until next time,

Aryan Sachdeva

[mingzisdrgongxuo]

Jinn - Wikipedia

Jinn (Arabic: جن‎, jinn) – also romanized as djinn or anglicized as genies – are invisible creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian religious systems and later in Islamic mythology and theology.[1] Like humans, they are accountable for their deeds, can be either believers (Muslim) or unbelievers (kafir); depending on whether they accept God's guidance. Since jinn are neither innately evil nor innately good,

Islam acknowledged spirits from other religions and was able to adapt them during its expansion. Jinn are not a strictly Islamic concept; they may represent several pagan beliefs integrated into Islam.

To assert a strict monotheism and the Islamic concept of Tauhid,

Islam denies all affinities between the jinn and God, thus placing the jinn parallel to humans, also subject to God's judgment and afterlife.

The Quran condemns the pre-Islamic Arabian practise of worshipping the jinn, or seeking protection from them.

Although generally invisible, jinn are supposed to be composed of thin and subtle bodies (ad̲j̲sām), they can change at will.

They favour snake form, but can also choose to appear as scorpions, lizards or as humans. They may even engage in sexual affairs with humans and produce offspring.

If they are injured by someone, they usually seek revenge or possess the assailant's body, refusing to leave it until forced to do so by exorcism. Jinn do not usually meddle in human affairs, preferring to live with their own kind in tribes similar to those of pre-Islamic Arabia.

📤 ⛩️ 🏯 (Fu Xi ba'gua-Taoism) 🏯 ⛩️ 📤

Individual jinn appear on charms and talismans. They are called upon for protection or magical aid, often under the leadership of a king. Many people who believe in jinn wear amulets to protect themselves against the assaults of jinn, sent out by sorcerers and witches.

A commonly-held belief maintains that jinn cannot hurt someone who wears something with the name of "God" written upon it.

While some Muslim scholars in the past have had ambivalent attitudes towards sorcery, believing that good jinn do not require one to commit sin, most contemporary Muslim scholars associate dealing with jinn with idolatry.

[sketching-shark]

are yaoguai similar to djinn? also are they the same as the yokai/oni?

Okay so as per usual I do have to give my disclaimer that I am pretty ignorant when it comes to work mythology, but from what I do know it seems that yaoguai (of China), djinn (of Arabia), and yokai/oni (of Japan) ARE similar in that they are all supernatural entities who while often malevolent towards humans can be benevolent as well (unlike the Western concept of demon, who are always [at least traditionally] hostile). There also seems to be a huge variety among the shapes they take and places they dwell in, so that seems to be another point of commonality. That said, each group of supernatural creatures are quite unique in both behavior and geographic local to the point where I'd say that while they have their similarities you DEFINITELY can't call them the same.

Here's how the Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John & Caitlín Matthews defines the djinn:

"These are the primary species of demons in Arabic tradition and are widely known throughout most of the Islamic world, especially in the Sahara and parts of the northern and eastern Mediterraniea. There are many variations to their names including Dgen, Dschin, Genie, Ginn, Jann, Jinn and Junun. There are actually several classes of Djinn, including the powerful Marid, the Afreet, the Shaytans and the Jann. Not all are evil and some can be quite helpful--like the Genie of the Lamp in the story of Aladdin. However, the majority are very ugly and savage in nature. They can take numerous shapes and have been known to appear as human beings, monsters, cats, ostriches, dogs and snakes. When they do take human form, it is often that of a beautiful woman, who may only be detected by the fact that the pupils of her eyes have vertical slits. The evil Djinn cause sandstorms and water spouts, and for this reason when the Zoba'ah, a whirlwind that forms itself into a pillar of sand stretching to enormous heights, sweeps across the desert the Arabs believe it to be caused by the flight of one of these evil demons. Almost the only defence against the Djinn is iron, and as in the traditions of European fairies, any iron object can bind them.

According to Koranic tradition the Djinn were created from fire, or have fire in their veins instead of blood. Their first leader was called Taranushi, but in time he was overthrown and they have since possessed many chieftains. Other traditions say that the Djinn are composed of air and were created 2,000 years before man, who they will not outlive, since it is prophesied that they will be destroyed at the Last Judgment. Some traditions say that the Djinn are governed by 40 (or 72) kings named Suleyman. One particular tradition describes a battle between Djinn and angels in which the Djinn were the losers, being driven from the mainland to the islands in the Arabian Gulf. One young Djinn, named Azazel, was taken prisoner and brought up among the angels. In time, he became their leader and took the name Iblis. When Adam was created, God commanded the angels to worship him; the only one who refused to do so was Iblis, and for this disobedience he was turned into a devil and became the leader of a race of Djinn called Shaytan, from which the Western name for the devil, Satan, derives.

Djinn mate and produce families like human beings, and when they are thus domesticated they live in a far-off country called Jennistan, the capital of which is the City of Jewels. But the Djinn seem to be seldom in this place, as they are found mostly in wells, rivers, ruined places and, sometimes, in market places. Earth Djinns dwell in drains, toilets, cemeteries and dark damp ruins. Water Djinns inhabit any water source, be it river, fountain or well. They are deemed particularly malevolent and like nothing more than to entice humans into the water so that they can drown them. Tree Djinns inhabit the trees and are the most benign of the species, with the exception of the Djinn that inhabits the fig tree, who causes humans to quarrel with each other if they chance to rest beneath the shade of its branches. Stories are told of humans and Djinn marrying but while a human man may marry a female Djinn, a human female may not marry a male Djinn. The offspring of such marriages will appear human but have the magical abilities of the Djinn, including the power of flight, the ability to walk through walls, and extreme longevity. In general, Djinn are very hard to kill and are extremely long-lived, but men have found ways to kill them, and in their own wars the Djinn can destroy each other. It is also said that comets flung from heaven will kill them."

Yaoguai, for their own part, are mostly malevolent animal spirits (such as the Demon Bull King, the King of Spiritual Touch [Guanyin's goldfish], and arguably Sun Wukong in his time as the Quitian Dasheng) or fallen celestials (such as Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing) who acquired magical powers through Taoism. While they are often mischievous and/or horrifically violent towards humans, their overarching goal is to gain immortality and this become deities. They also have a wide variety of origins, from being the Earthly reincarnations of former celestial figures to originating from humans remains (a was the case with the White Bone Spirit). They do seem to have a preference for mountainous caves and lonely places, but can be found everywhere, with some even pretending to be human rulers. It is apparently possible for humans and yaoguai to have children, but these kids look like and seem to have the same power as any other mortal. In any case, there does seem to be a fair amount of fluidity between humans, yaoguai, and deities, with the cycle of reincarnation and possibilities of transformation meaning that one could definitely go from a high spot in the celestial realm to a very lowly position as a human or yaoguai on Earth, and vice versa.

Finally, the Japanese term "yokai" is apparently a derived from the Chinese "yaoguai" and does refer to similar kinds of creatures. The "true" Japanese equivalent is the term "mononoke," with that being an umbrella term of "evil spirits." "Yokai" however seems to be even more of a catch-all word, as it refers to monsters, spirits, as well as strange and inexplicable phenomena. More recent years have seen it particularly used for tangible and Japan-specific creatures though, such as the kappa, tengu, and kitsune. While they can been viciously harmful towards humans, yokai have also demonstrated a kinder side and helped humans out of various troubles, with some even falling in love and marrying humans. As with the yaoguai, there also does seem to be quite a bit of porousness between humans, yokai, and deities, with it being very much possible for one to turn into the other. That said, there are plenty of notorious yokai; the oni (ogre) Shuten doji, the tengu Emperor Sutoku, and the kitsune Tamamo-No-Mae (whose stone body/stone prison split early this year!) are even known as Three Great Evil Yokai because of the violence and chaos they caused.

This is just a very brief summary of but a few of the similarities and differences between these three types of supernatural entities, but I hope you find it a good starting point to understanding these interesting supernatural beings, anon!

#djinn #yaoguai #yokai #supernatural creatures #anon answered

[agentnico]

Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022) Review

George Miller is such a strange director. Don’t get me wrong, he’s incredibly talented, but one cannot simply pinpoint his style. Just browsing through his filmography he’s made the Mad Max movies, Babe, The Witches of Eastwick, Three Thousand Years of Longing and fricking Happy Feet! Talk about a director who does whatever the fudge he wants.

Plot: Dr Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) is an academic - content with life and a creature of reason. While in Istanbul attending a conference, she happens to encounter a Djinn (Idris Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. This presents two problems. First, she doubts that he is real and second, because she is a scholar of story and mythology, she knows all the cautionary tales of wishes gone wrong. The Djinn pleads his case by telling her fantastical stories of his past. Eventually she is beguiled and makes a wish that surprises them both.

So this movie is tanking pretty badly at the box office, however I am always one for supporting films that are different and unusual. Especially ones with an original idea like Three Thousand Years does. Yes, there are evident inspirations taken from Aladdin and Arabian Nights, however this isn’t a straightforward story. It’s more so a selection of stories, and an analysis of our perceptions on the meaning behind these stories and what they can teach us. In fact the stories that the Djinn tells of his experiences in the said three thousand years to the academic are the film’s highlight. His journey is astounding and his experiences both shaped him and his complicated view of humanity. I must mention that George Miller plays a few neat tricks to visually make these stories stand out, from the vibrant sepia tones to the costumes and major set pieces, whilst holding an element of magnificence to the procedures. The movie feels as if someone has sat you down under a blanket reading you a book filled with many great stories. Again, the Arabian Nights inspiration is ever so present.

Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton are both very talented actors who have proven themselves to be on par with some of the greats, so of course it’s good seeing them two share the screen together. Swinton is good as Alithea, her character's attitude is measured both in her empathy and her willingness to suspend disbelief and that comes through in her work. I wanted Alithea to rediscover some joy in her life and despite some narrative shortcomings, Swinton got the job done. Idris Elba was the standout though. The script gifts him the more likeable character but his sincerity and his ability to run the whole spectrum of emotion from scene to scene are vital to the success of Three Thousand Years. Through his vocals and expressions you glimpse into his state of sadness and torment that he’s suffered with for many many MANY years. I wonder how many?...

I must say the key word I’d use to describe this film is - interesting. Very interesting in just sitting down and experiencing Miller’s unique vision for this tales, or should I say collection of tales. Naturally though the movie isn’t without flaw. Aside from some pacing issues where the film drags here and there, the movie mainly loses the audience with its so-so ending. As soon as Alithea finishes listening to the stories and leaves Istanbul, returning to her regular life, the movie fails to recapture the feeling of wonderment and spellbind that the beginning has. Alithea’s contemporary life just isn’t that interesting, and an introduction to her bad neighbours and such come off as rushed and unnecessary. At the end the movie ends with the focus on the relationship between Alithea and the Djinn, however I feel like the romance is the part that the movie fails at the most. Like I didn’t care about their love, cause I felt the love was forced. I understand why that was what the movie ended with, but it didn’t seem to fit either. 

Three Thousand Years of Longing is not a film I can say that I loved, but boy am I glad to have still seen it and experienced it. It’s a very interesting watch and not one that I would have given time for if it randomly came up on streaming. It had to be seen in the cinema and was wonderful to see this narrative unfold under the stronghold of George Miller’s ability to handle storytelling and directing. It’s a very ambitious piece that gets it 3/4 right, and that’s impressive in itself.

Overall score: 7/10

#three thousand years of longing #george miller #tilda swinton #idris elba #drama #fantasy #romance #three thousand years of longing review #movie #film #movie reviews #film reviews #2022 #2022 in film #2022 films #cinema #three thousand years #djinn #3000 years of longing #idris elba djinn #storytelling #arabian nights #the djinn in the nightingale's eye #aamito lagum #lachy hulme #megan gale

[dailymythicalknowledge]

Jackson's Daily Bestiary #3: Djinn

Region of Origin: Arabia

Djinn are invisible creatures which originated from pre-islamic arabian beliefs and were later incorporated into Islamic teachings.

Djinn live on Earth alongside humans, but usually go unseen by them. They have societies of their own and are neither inherently good nor inherently evil. Like humans and angels, Djinn were created by Allah, and thus possess free will. Because of this, Djinn are subject to moral consequences, and can be faithful servants of Allah just as they can be His opposers. This also means that they can have families, jobs, etc.

Djinn are made from smokeless fire and are capable of assuming many different forms, such as various animals. They can be punishing to those who wrong them, but also often help humans, such as by helping them grow spiritually, thus becoming closer to Allah. Djinn are also capable of possessing humans and controlling their actions, but may be warded off by talismans with prayers written on them, or which depict prophets and/or religious heroes.

There are many different types of Djinn, such as the Efreet and the Shaytan, among others.

Sources:

-https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinn

-https://www.britannica.com/topic/jinni

-https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/djinn

-https://islamqa.info/en/answers/8214/%C2%A0-do-the-jinn-help-humans-in-some-ways

-https://study.com/academy/lesson/jinn-overview-mythology-names.html

-https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tali/hd_tali.htm

#Jackson's Daily Bestiary #djinni #genie #islamic #mythology #folklore

[taperwolf]

Does anybody know offhand when it became established that genies grant you three — and exactly three — wishes?

I mean, if you go back to the original Arabian Nights, Aladdin doesn't have a wish-granting machine, he has two artifacts — a ring and a lamp — which each grant command over a different enslaved djinn. Djinn are a well-established people in Arabian folklore and Islamic mythology/theology, a third order of beings — not made from light, like angels, nor earth, like humans, but of smokeless fire — and there's a lot of lore behind them. In the story, the ring djinn can do small magical-seeming things like transporting a person around, while the lamp djinn can move whole palaces between continents. They're constrained to obey every command the holder of their — prison? Command artifact? — gives.

And so I get why in retellings there's the "you've freed me, here are magical boons in exchange" motif instead of "well, I guess you're the new slavemaster" bit. But why three? Are the stories getting mixed up with those of captured leprechauns? Is it just that Christians like threes?

#genies #djinn #wishes #i don't remember if the story specifies that the djinni were enslaved by solomon #but he's the mythological origin of the djinn and demon binding arts

[jinxedshapeshifter]

So a while ago I came up with an idea for a Greek mythology themed Sonic game, since we have a Sonic game based on the Arabian Nights (actually fun fact, the final boss's name is the transliteration of the Arabian name for the Arabian Nights; this makes sense as at that point the Erazor Djinn was basically the embodiment of the Arabian Nights) and a Sonic game based on medieval English/Welsh folklore. I'm tempted to come up with ideas for more games in the Sonic Storybook series, including Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood, and potentially others. Idk, I had fun coming up with the Greek mythology one.

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic storybook series #sonic and the black knight #sonic and the secret rings

[yaworldchallenge]

Review - Alif the Unseen (UAE*)

(image source: Wikimedia Commons)

YA World Challenge book for: 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (*inspired)

Alif the Unseen

Author: G. Willow Wilson

I read this book earlier in the year, before I came up with the World Challenge, so it has the distinction of being the only title on my list I had already read.

The book is set in current times (well, in 2012 when it was published) in a fictional autocratic emirate on the Arabian Peninsula. Seeing that the UAE has a human rights score of 17 out of 100 at freedomhouse.org and has a large population of non-citizen workers, the fictional location seems to match well enough.

It is more in the “new adult” range or upper YA due to the language and mature themes. Alif’s age is not stated, but my guess is 18-early 20s.

Review

The book follows Alif, alias for an Arab-Indian young hacker who spends time offering anonymity services to porn sites and terrorists alike without discrimination, and evading the Hand of God - the state’s new surveillance mechanism that has been cracking down on freedoms online. When one day he receives a mysterious old book from an ex-girlfriend, it turns his life upside-down, makes him an enemy of the state and draws him and childhood friend Dina into a world of djinn they never knew existed - the unseen world.

The story keeps up a quick pace - Alif is on the run from state authorities and there is danger at every turn as he tries to crack the mystery of the book, aided by Dina, and his newfound not-so-human friend Vikram the Vampire (also, not a vampire) whose crude manners conceal his many layers.

While the action is gripping, the djinn world intriguing, and our hero is fallible and likeable, the story has a tendency to bring up theology and philosophical musings as often as it can. Sometimes these are very interesting insights into Islam or human nature, and sometimes they leave you scratching your head - like how does an ancient book create a new way of coding that can melt a laptop and make its user near-transcend? Answer: it’s fantasy.

The character of the convert... I can’t tell if she’s uncomfortable because she’s an author insert or if she is supposed to make Westerners feel uncomfortable? By not naming her is the author playing on the old stereotyped trope of giving the “exotic” character no real name (ex. Punjab from Annie, the Persian from Phantom of the Opera)? I don’t think she would have been half as troubling if she would just have had a name.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Dina, who keeps things grounded, ever-practical, and refreshingly unwavering in her faith despite other’s opposition.

Overall, if you can gloss over the philosophizing and just take it at face value, you get an enjoyable fantasy thriller that mixes mythical djinn, Islamic theology, and modern authoritarian states and the people who resist them.

Pros:

Fast-paced mix of tech thriller and urban fantasy, as well as social commentary on freedoms in the Middle East

Smart, kickass secondary female character who wears a full veil, by her own choice

Nuanced, intelligent, positive representation of faith and religion

Cons:

Gets into some abstractness that can seem a little silly

Lots of philosophizing here and there about Islam and other concepts that might not be relevant to non-Muslims, tries to make broad statements on Western culture vs Eastern culture that again, maybe I just don’t get it

★ ★ ★ ★ 4 stars

Bookshop.org link  ||  Kobo ebook

Genres: #fantasy, contemporary #thriller #faith #revolution #mythology

Other reps: #muslim #straight #hijabi

See content warnings on Storygraph

#review #book review #bookblr #united arab emirates #ya world challenge #booklr #bookish #book tumblr #book #fantasy books #alif the unseen #g willow wilson #contemporary fantasy #urban fantasy #thriller #faith #revolution #mythology #muslim #straight #hijabi #middle east #uae #book blog #4 stars

[devimea]

DjinnA Djinn according to the Oxford dictionary is:(in Arabian and Muslim mythology) an intelligent spirit of lower rank than the angels, able to appear in human and animal forms and to possess humans."the rebellious djinn lead men astray"This was originally me posing with a little sas, with an alien like filter effect, My mohawk wasn't combed or anything but, was out and then I truly loved my "Alien entity" look. I loved it. Then I began playing with multiplicity & perspective and then saw it in more than one color. I love Mandalas and spirals, funnels and certain shapes and I am also fascinated by the trippy colors of the sixties decade I arrived too late for. They sort of all came together here, the: shapes,colors, spiral, mandala vibe and kaleidescope too, plus the djinn feel I wanted.Always an honor to have you come visit and hope one of my pieces brings magic and happiness or emotion, to your space.This one comes in two variations Thank you for any and all support as I continue creating as long as I can. Eyes & body are iffy due to neurological disorder so we keep going!

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