The Legend of Flying Carpets

Flying Carpets and Folklore

Riding a Magic Carpet

Flying Carpets have always been considered mythical objects used in the days of old. There has been a lot of folklore and controversies about Flying Carpets, they're origin and the real reasons they were created in the first place.

One of the most popular accounts of the Flying Carpet is the Disney animation ‘Aladdin'. This was one of the most mesmerizing stories of the enchanting magic carpet. Once Aladdin rode in on his flying carpet with the lamp and his pet monkey, the Sultan was captivated by the magical device, and so was Jasmine. 

Flying Carpets and biblical stories

The carpet could be considered one of the major reasons Aladdin was so confident, and of course, there was the genie and his wishes. The beauty of the carpet and the strength it brought its owner cannot be overemphasized. However, the earliest account of the Flying Carpet was recorded to have been a gift to the biblical King Solomon.

Did King Solomon have a flying carpet?

King Solomon was known for his wives and concubines and for amassing a lot of wealth. So, if flying carpets truly existed, it is possible that the wealthy king had one. However, two accounts of this story have caused historians to doubt the existence of the mobile magical Flying Carpets.

Did Queen Sheba make King Solomon a Persian Rug?

One version had it that Queen Sheba, who was recorded to have had an affair with King Solomon, had some skilled artisans craft a unique carpet of green silk and gold. Was this a Persian Rug?

The carpet was recorded to have hovered, and it was delivered to the King. However, the construction of the temple at Jerusalem was still afoot, and Solomon rejected the gift.

Did this flying carpet carry 40,000 men?

Another story of King Solomon and the Flying Carpet recorded that God himself gave Solomon the Flying Carpet. This magnificent carpet was said to carry about 40,000 men, and there was still room for leisure.

Solomon's arrogance grew due to his new acquisition, and God punished him by creating turbulence in the air, which sent all 40,000 men flying off the carpet to their deaths. Ouch!

Flying carpets are powerful!

Another account of the Flying Carpet is in the Arabian Nights, where the Indian prince Hussian rides one to several locations. Also, in 130 B.C., Phraates II, a Parthian king, rides on his Flying Carpet into war, destroying his enemies with lightning and fire.

 He also rode home triumphantly on the same carpet. Other stories have been recorded about the Flying Carpet, and they all portray the measure of power it gave to its owners.

Modern-day flying carpets are Oriental Carpets and Rugs

In modern days, the closest you can get to a Flying Carpet are Persian Rugs. The craft of these rugs is amazing, almost magical. Although they do not hover, it is hard not to appreciate the unparalleled beauty of these handmade Oriental Rugs.

Oriental Rugs represent beauty, art, history, culture and, yes, a little bit of storytelling.

Please visit the Flying Carpets Oriental Rug Store in Mississauga, Ontario, and you might find that magic carpet to ride home!