Available Variants
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp
In a city in Arabia lived a poor boy named Aladdin. One day a sorcerer pretending to be his uncle led him to a hidden cave filled with treasure. 'Bring me the old lamp,' the sorcerer demanded, 'but touch nothing else.' Aladdin found the lamp but refused to hand it over before climbing out. The sorcerer sealed him inside.
Trapped in darkness, Aladdin rubbed the lamp and a vast genie appeared. 'I am the slave of the lamp,' the genie said. 'What is your command?' Aladdin wished to be taken home, then for wealth, a palace, and the sultan's daughter. But the sorcerer returned and stole the lamp by trickery. Aladdin reclaimed it with the help of a lesser genie from a magic ring.
Field Notes
My Folklore Journal
Record your thoughts, motifs you noticed, or personal connections to this tale.
Aladdin was not in the original Arabic manuscripts of One Thousand and One Nights. It was added by French translator Antoine Galland in 1710 from a Syrian storyteller's oral tale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial Review
Reviewed by
Dr. Eleanor Vance, Folklore Studies
Last updated
April 1, 2026
Sources & References
- 1.Aarne, A. & Thompson, S. — The Types of the Folktale (1961)
- 2.Lindahl, C. — European Folklore: An Encyclopedia (2004)
- 3.Dorson, R. — Peasant Customs and Savage Myths (1968)
Community Discussion
I love how this variant emphasizes the role of the magical helper. It's so different from the version I grew up with!
The ATU 510A classification really helps in seeing the structural similarities with Ye Xian. Fascinating stuff.
