Anyone know where the idea of a Genie came from?

[Purrcatnip]

So, I am watching "I dreamed of Jeannie"..and wondering, where did that concept on a genie in the bottle come from? Is it from an Arabian myth?

P.s. Looked it up on Wiki and found some ideas.. but if anyone knows anything more. I would love to hear it.

[Rudas Starblaze]

from aladin! everybody knows that! geez!:weirdsmil

[Purrcatnip]

from aladin! everybody knows that! geez!:weirdsmil

Haha, well in that case...:thief:

[mayu]

i remember reading that the word genie is derived from the evil spirits called jinn, they can be attached to items for deeds, try reading through this link, ive found it to be quite informative.

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/jinn.html

[Purrcatnip]

Ok, so in Christian/Muslim mythology they are seen as a devils or demons. What about in other religions?

[Shawn Blackwolf]

Another reference :

Some same info...just more , with links...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie

[Purrcatnip]

i remember reading that the word genie is derived from the evil spirits called jinn, they can be attached to items for deeds, try reading through this link, ive found it to be quite informative.

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/jinn.html

From that source, I found this to be very interesting:

According to Persian mythology some of them live in a place called Jinnistan. Others say jinns live with other supernatural beings in the Kaf, mystical emerald mountains surrounding the earth

[Iris]

Interesting topic!

I knew that the idea of the 'genie' came from Arabic 'djinn', but that was pretty much all I knew...

Anyone else read American Gods by Neil Gaiman? There's a unique djinn in that story. He only appears very briefly.

[David19]

Ok, so in Christian/Muslim mythology they are seen as a devils or demons. What about in other religions?

From what I know, Jinn/Djinn can be similar to humans - some are evil, some can even be good (I'm not sure if this is right, but, I think I've heard, some are said to be good Muslims?), some are just neutral, etc. I don't think you'd get Genie's, or Djinn/Jinn's in other religions, as they are specifically Arabian.

I've also been told that the Djinn can be traced back to the Asag demon of Sumer (I haven't got a specific source that says that, it's word of mouth, from someone that does know quite a bit about Sumerian beliefs).


Another reference :

Some same info...just more , with links...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie

Thanks for that cool link, there was a cool topic on Occult Forums about the Djinn, I'll see if I can find it later.


Interesting topic!

I knew that the idea of the 'genie' came from Arabic 'djinn', but that was pretty much all I knew...

Anyone else read American Gods by Neil Gaiman? There's a unique djinn in that story. He only appears very briefly.

I read that, and I remember the Djinn in it, the homosexual taxi driver (who tricked the other Arab guy into switching places or something like that?).

The Djinn are pretty interesting.

[Shawn Blackwolf]

Well , David , I did not mention it before...

But , in my Faery Tradition , Djinn , is the Elemental Ruler of
Fire , and the Salamander Elementals , of the South , in our circle...

I could tell you where the name really came from...PM me...:uhhuhuh:



I don't think you'd get Genie's, or Djinn/Jinn's in other religions, as they are specifically Arabian.

[sleepycat]

Genie is a corruption of Djinn.
Djinn were/are what we would call air elementals. very powerful and unpredictable.
Efreet were/are fire elementals.
They're both Persian/ Sumerian / Babylonian don't think anyone can separate the myths of those cultures, they're too old and intermingled.

Wind and Fire. Perfect for desert cultures. They may have water and earth also, but if they do, I don't know them. Mid-east is not my strong area.

[David19]

Genie is a corruption of Djinn.
Djinn were/are what we would call air elementals. very powerful and unpredictable.
Efreet were/are fire elementals.
They're both Persian/ Sumerian / Babylonian don't think anyone can separate the myths of those cultures, they're too old and intermingled.

Wind and Fire. Perfect for desert cultures. They may have water and earth also, but if they do, I don't know them. Mid-east is not my strong area.

The ancient Middle East does have deities and other spirits for water, earth, fire, and wind, and a whole host of other things too.

[sleepycat]

Can you tell me what a water spirit is called in any mid-east culture?

[Toby Stimpson]

Can you tell me what a water spirit is called in any mid-east culture?

There are very few water spirits right now because the majority of the Middle East is desert or dry terrain, and is dominated by Islam. The closest thing would be an Afrit, a type of Djinn that hangs around at water holes and pools.