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~ SHEHARAZADE ~

Tales of her incredable gifts as a story teller, as well as the stories she told, date back before the 9th Century, not only from Arab countries, but also India, Persia, and possibly Greece. She is the creatix of The Thousand and One Nights, and this is how Her story goes:

Shahryar, a king in Central Asia, embittered by an experience with feminine infidelity, devised a way to further avoid betrayal. Each time he married, he murdered the bride after the wedding night, so that not a one of them would have time enough left in there life to be unfaithful. Consequently, and with good reason, terror reigned in his kingdom. Needless to say his vizier had great trouble finding any woman who would consent to marry him. Concerned for her father's well being, his own daughter, Sheharazade offered to marry the king.

She was a very clever and talented young woman, well read in much of the histories and stories of the past generations, and very eloquent in recounting them.

On their wedding night, Sheharazade utilized Shahryar's insomnia as an excuse to tell him a tell. Come dawn's light, the tale had not ended, and the king, curious, allowed her to live another night to complete the story. She finished early the next evening and immediately began another.... And so it went , for a thousand and one nights. During these almost three years, the king came to love her and she bore them three children. Shahryar, wishing to immortalize his lady love and his cause for such happiness, had The Thousand and One Nights put in to writing. It is stated there: "And he and the people of his empire continued in prosperity and delight and happiness until they6 were visited by the terminator of delights and the separartor of companions." Alas, death.

Sheharazade's victory of mind over matter, of wisdom over cynicism, of healing with curiousity and love what had been injured by betrayal and anger, and restoring peace where terror once reigned, is truly a feminine victory. Without violence, nor bloodshed, lives were woven together through charm, intelligence, and gentle perseverance, creating true love and lasting happiness.

Her tales touch on all the great themes of humanity: love, nostalgia for times past, cruelty...

As in "The Tender Tale of Prince Jasmine and Princess Almond", told on Night 998,

Love was before the light began,
When Light is over, love shall be;
O warm hand in the grave, O bridge of truth,
O ivy's tooth
Eating the green heart of the tree
Of man!