Most people attribute the history of the magical flying carpet the original stories of “One Thousand and One Nights”. But in realty, there is not mention of such a carpet in the Galland manuscript, which is considered one of the earliest and most well-known versions of the collection.
The concept of the flying carpet and the famous stories associated with it, such as Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, were later additions made by Antoine Galland himself when he translated and compiled the stories.
Antoine Galland Created The Famous Flying Carpet In Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
The specific story of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, which includes the famous flying carpet, was actually added by Antoine Galland himself when he translated and compiled the stories. Galland incorporated various elements and motifs from his own imagination and other sources, including the concept of the magical carpet. The flying carpet became particularly popular due to its inclusion in subsequent adaptations and retellings of the Arabian Nights tales – especially that of Walt Disney.
It is important to note that the “One Thousand and One Nights” collection is a complex and evolving work with contributions from different authors and cultures over many centuries. The inclusion of certain elements, such as the flying carpet, varied across different versions and adaptations of the stories.
The concept of flying carpets spread across different cultures and regions over time, finding its way into various legends and folklore. For instance, in Turkish mythology, there are stories of “Uçan Halı,” meaning “Flying Carpet,” often associated with the mystical character known as Nasreddin Hodja.