Magic carpet

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For other uses, see Magic carpet (disambiguation).

Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov.

A magic carpet, also called a flying carpet, is a legendary carpet that can be used to transport persons who are on it instantaneously or quickly to their destination.

1 In literature
2 In popular culture
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] In literature

Magic carpets have appeared in literature from almost Biblical times through the present day. Although they were mainly an Arab or Indian motif, the popularity of 1001 Arabian Nights brought magic carpets to the attention of Western audiences. The literary traditions of several other cultures also feature magical carpets. The magic carpet of Tangu, also called "Prince Housain's carpet" was a seemingly worthless carpet from Tangu in Persia that acted as a magic carpet. It was featured in Aladdin and other tales from 1001 Arabian Nights.

Another Vasnetsov's rendering of the same subject.

Solomon's carpet was reportedly made of green silk, on which Solomon's throne was placed when traveling. A gift from the Queen of Sheba, it was large enough for his entourage to stand upon, people on his right, spirits to his left. The wind followed Solomon's commands, and ensured the carpet and its contents would go to the proper destination. The carpet was shielded from the sun by a canopy of birds.

In Russian folk tales, Baba Yaga can supply Ivan the Fool with a flying carpet or some other magical gifts (e.g., a ball that rolls in front of the hero showing him the way or a towel that can turn into a bridge). Such gifts help the hero to find his way "beyond thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-ten kingdom". Russian painter Viktor Vasnetsov illustrated the tales featuring a flying carpet on two occasions (illustrations, to the right).

In Mark Twain's "Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven", magic wishing-carpets are used to instantaneously travel throughout Heaven.

[edit] In popular culture

Magic carpets have also been featured in modern literature, movies, and video games, and not always in a classic context.

In his comic fairy tale Prince Prigio, Andrew Lang makes one of the hero's christening gifts a magic carpet.
Poul Anderson's Operation Chaos features an alternate America in which flying carpets are a major form of transportation, along with brooms.
In Super Mario Bros. 2, an enemy named Pidgit rides on a flying carpet.
A flying carpet is also a character in the 1992 Disney film Aladdin.
In Sourcery, the fifth novel in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, Rincewind, Corina, Nijel and Creosote escape from Klatch using a magic carpet stored in Creosote's treasury. However, the escape does not initially go according to plan since the carpet does not work until Rincewind "just paid attention to certain fundamental details of laminar and spatial arrangements." (the carpet being upside down) and commands it to go 'down' in order to make it fly.
Mr. Popo from the famous manga and anime Dragon Ball rides a magic carpet.
Flying carpets are a mode of transportation called "Hawking mats" in the novel Hyperion by Dan Simmons.
Harry Potter - The Ministry of Magic has made magic carpets illegal made in a reference in the 4th book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire