“The Vizier’s Daughter”

“The Vizier’s Daughter”

Shahryar, a powerful king of an ancient land, had become so enraged by his first wife’s unfaithfulness to him, that he beheaded her, and began wedding a new woman every night, only to behead her the next day so that no woman could ever be unfaithful to him again. This went on for 1,000 days, until he met his vizier’s daughter, Scheherazade. She was clever and engaging, having spent her days reading many books on history, philosophy, poetry, and other arts.

Scheherazade volunteered to spend a night with the king, and kept him occupied by telling him a thrilling tale. She stopped in the midst of the story, prompting the king to spare her life so that she could continue the following night. The next night came, and when Scheherazade finished the story, the king asked her if she knew any more, to which Scheherazade replied that yes, she had many more stories to tell. Every night she would weave a new tale for the king, and stop in the middle, assuring her survival for another day. This went on for 1,001 nights, during which time the king had fallen in love with Scheherazade, and at the end of her final tale, he made her his queen.

The collected stories are known as “One Thousand and One Nights” (also titled “Arabian Nights”) with Scheherazade as the narrator. It’s been widely translated and adapted in many cultures through the years, and most noted for containing the tales of “Aladdin,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” and “Sinbad the Sailor,” though some of the more famous tales were added in later adaptions.

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