In popular depictions like Disney’s Aladdin, genies are trapped in lamps with possession of the lamp granting the owner dominion over the genie and its powers via wishes. But the relationship between jinn and vessels is an ancient one of mystery, folklore, and magic.
A thread
A thread
The idea of containing spirits is relatively widespread throughout the ancient near east.
We have material evidence of bowls from Babylonian Jewish incantation bowls and other similar healing and apotropaic talismanic objects (see Gross & Manekin-Bamberger's Babylonian Jewish Society: The Evidence of Incantation Bowls and Shaked’s work).
Similar practices are found in the Islamic world where vessels, bowls, and jars would come to be linked to the jinn, a hidden race of fiery supernatural beings.
Pre-Islamic reference to the jinn, particularly in poetry, often align the jinn to animals. Something which later encyclopedic works like that of al Qazwini would continue.
But we also see a connection to caves, holes, and cracks. Not unlike cats, jinn seem to like to nestle themselves into crevasses.
As such humans are warned not to pour hot water into a hole as it may anger or harm a jinn.
As such humans are warned not to pour hot water into a hole as it may anger or harm a jinn.
Damiri even tells a story of how a man accidentally killed a jinn by tossing the seed of a date into a hole.
Additionally because the jinn are shapeshifters they are able to squeeze their way into any crack or opening.
This allows them to slip into homes easily, but could be their undoing.
This allows them to slip into homes easily, but could be their undoing.
In one popular tale, a jinn had fallen in love with a woman and so took to the guise of her husband to enter their home.
When the real husband came back he found the jinn doppelganger in his own house.
When the real husband came back he found the jinn doppelganger in his own house.
Causing a scene brought the neighbors who were all confounded by the appearance of two of the same man.
They were all taken before the local magistrate and wise man who knew just how to handle the matter.
He proposes a contest: whoever can squeeze inside the small jar in his hand would be the true husband.
He proposes a contest: whoever can squeeze inside the small jar in his hand would be the true husband.
The jinn gave a triumphant shout and quickly changing his form, leaped into the jar only for the magistrate to close the lid, trapping him.
These stories alternatively reveal the jinn as immensely powerful with the ability to ride desert storms to wipe out whole towns but at the same time easily killed by tossing a seed in a hole.
They are described as infinitely cunning, yet simple enough to fall for ruses that trap them. (Human propaganda most likely 😊).
Yet the combination of the jinn as shapeshifters and dwellers in cracks and holes along with the older tradition of magic bowls are perhaps an origin for jinn vessels in the form of bowls, jars, and rings and in the case of Aladdin the lamp.
Various legends of King Solomon further this connection.
The Qur’an speaks of Solomon’s dominion over the jinn who serve him as soldiers and builders (Q 27:17).
Rebellious jinn are punished by trapping them in vessels others are put in service of building great monuments.
The tales are found in pre-Islamic poetry like that of al-Dhubyānī and further confirmed in the Qur’an. (See Stetkevych)
The tales are found in pre-Islamic poetry like that of al-Dhubyānī and further confirmed in the Qur’an. (See Stetkevych)
These threads of traditions of the jinn come together in the form of folk practices and magic
By the medieval era we encounter a body of literature of how to tame and exorcise jinn.
Mages and the wise give instructions for the prescription of talismanic objects which include techniques like the creation of jinn vessels.
Mages and the wise give instructions for the prescription of talismanic objects which include techniques like the creation of jinn vessels.
Constructed as jars they are inscribed with a seal to contain the mighty jinn.
Other objects include magic rings with semi-precious stones like carnelians within which reside jinn servants and familiars.
Other objects include magic rings with semi-precious stones like carnelians within which reside jinn servants and familiars.
The jinn ring in particularly is drawn from the legend of the Solomonic seal which contains the sacred Name of God and was given to Solomon from God by the angel Gabriel.
We are also given instructions for the construction of magic bowls.
Some of which are inscribed with various Qur’anic verses and used in healing practices usually by drinking water out of them.
Some of which are inscribed with various Qur’anic verses and used in healing practices usually by drinking water out of them.
Others were used in the classic Babylonian Jewish fashion through burial.
You can see an example of a brass one from my own collection here:
Finally, we find the relationship between vessels and jinn in popular folk practices as well.
Muslims are often advised to avoid leaving jars and bottles open lest a jinn slip in.
Muslims are often advised to avoid leaving jars and bottles open lest a jinn slip in.
Damiri even attributes the advice to Umar, the companion of Muhammad, who advises that jinn feed on anything left in open containers.
Muslims are also told not to pour hot water down the sink, a call back to the older stories of pouring hot water into holes
Further advice warns not to leave open containers of water around as they attract the jinn.
Yet that can sometimes be desirable.
For example for those who are disturbed by jinn at night, a bowl of water next to the bed can be a solution for the jinn will be drawn to the bowl then trapped in it.
For example for those who are disturbed by jinn at night, a bowl of water next to the bed can be a solution for the jinn will be drawn to the bowl then trapped in it.
The water can then safely be disposed away from the home.
It is not uncommon for bowls of water to be used as a folk healing practice against nightmares and dreams
It is not uncommon for bowls of water to be used as a folk healing practice against nightmares and dreams
And of course some of this makes it way into the Arabian Nights where stories abound of jinn trapped vessels and cast into the sea, or in the case of the story of Aladdin can be found trapped inside a lamp.
But what is often forgotten is there are two jinn in Aladdin! The jinn of the lamp and the jinn of the ring.
Both descend from a much older history of jinn and vessels.
Both descend from a much older history of jinn and vessels.
I’ll cover more on jinn and magic in future threads.
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