The Cave Of Wonders

The **Cave of Wonders** is a location in the animated film, *Aladdin*. It is a hidden cavern filled with vast riches and magical artifacts, most notably, the Genie's magic lamp. The cave can only be entered by an individual whose "worth lies far within"—the diamond in the rough. Those who make attempts to enter, otherwise, will be killed almost instantly if they do not heed the warning they are given upon their first attempt to enter. To keep these laws intact, and unworthy thieves away from the powerful riches that lie within, the entrance to the cave is protected by a sand guardian with the shape of a tiger's head.

The Caver Of Wonders is both a character in Arabian Nights, and a location.

## The Cave Of Wonders

### Located In

South California (one side), Agrabah (other side)

## Characterization

### Human-Like Qualities

Speaks, Opens and shuts the mouth of the cave, has emotion (rarely, and usually anger)

## Physical Description

The foreboding Cave Of Wonders is well known for it's Jaguar appearance at the mouth of the cave. It's a rock formation with a mind of it's own, and has many twists and turns inside.

## Occupation

The Cave Of Wonders' main job is unknown, although he seems to know a thing or two about guarding special objects such as Genie's lamp. He is very mysterious, and holds untold secrets inside.

### Gateway

The Cave is a gateway between California, United States, and the hidden country of Agrabah, and the two seem to be in different ages and times. Another world is also attached to the cave of wonders, Midgard. Roots from Midgard's cosmic world sustaining tree have connections to the Cave, allowing people from Midgard to travel into California. Only those who the Cave decides to enter may enter, and they may find themselves back where they started or lost before reaching the opposite exit.

## Personality

It's quickly discovered by those who enter the Cave that he has a mind of his own, and although he's a cave that doesn't stop him from being annoyingly vague, and have angry outbursts at times. He seems to enjoy playing with his prey, and can be called cruel.

## Names

The Cave of Wonders is known as many things, including The Cave of Wonders, and Wonder Caverns.

## Canon Appearances

### Aladdin

In the original film, the cave is visited at the very beginning by Jafar, Iago, and a thief named Gazeem. The location of the cave was revealed using a mystical golden Scarab Beetle, which also helped form the cave. Jafar orders Gazeem to go inside the Cave to retrieve the magical lamp. The Cave's tiger head warns the visitors that only one may enter, referred to as the *Diamond in the Rough*. Jafar and Gazeem don't quite understand what he means, so Jafar decides to order Gazeem to go in again. Gazeem hesitantly makes one step inside. When everything seems to be safe, the Cave suddenly roars and violently shuts its mouth, killing Gazeem and vanishing back into the sand, leaving the scarab halves to roll down the hill as it repeats that only the "Diamond in the Rough" may enter. Jafar then realizes he must find the Diamond in the Rough.

Back at the palace, Jafar takes the Sultan's mystic blue diamond ring in order to power his device. The device shows just who the Diamond in the Rough is: the cunning street rat Aladdin. Jafar orders the guards to capture Aladdin and take him to the Palace's dungeon. There Jafar, disguised as an ugly elderly beggar, takes Aladdin and Abu to the Cave. Aladdin identifies himself to the Cave, which allows him to enter, but warns him not to touch anything except for the lamp.

Aladdin and Abu successfully enter the cave, where they are tempted by the vast Forbidden Treasure filled with gold coins and jewels a-plenty, though Aladdin remembers the warning not to touch them. They come across a Magic Carpet, who offers to help and takes them to the back chamber where the lamp is located. As Aladdin climbs upstairs on a tall rock formation surrounded by water to retrieve the lamp, Abu spots a large ruby held by a monkey idol, and is overcome with temptation.

Despite Carpet's best efforts to stop him and Aladdin frantically yelling at him to stop the moment he himself retrieves the lamp, Abu seizes the ruby, and the Cave angrily announces that Aladdin and Abu will both die for *not* heeding its warning. Abu sheepishly puts the ruby back, but it's too late. The ruby and monkey idol melt into lava, which soon turns the cave’s water into lava, then the entire cave fills itself with lava and flames as it collapses and destroys the rest of the Forbidden Treasure. Aladdin and Abu nearly escape with the help of Carpet, but are thrown down by Jafar, who thought he had stolen the lamp. The cave, after pained bellows, then dissolves with Aladdin, Abu, and Carpet still inside.

Inside the cave, it is revealed that Abu stole the lamp back from Jafar. Genie is released and frees them from their prison (also tricking Genie into granting a free wish in the process).

At the end of the film, the Cave of Wonders reforms when Genie launches Jafar's Lamp to it with Jafar and Iago inside to endure 10,000 years of imprisonment.