Sinbad the Sailor's Second Voyage: The Valley of Diamonds & the Legendary Roc
Acrylic on papier-mâché, 300 USD
Sinbad (imagined as a fish with a human face), 43 x 17 x 15 cm
Bird (Roc), 11 x 13 x 17 cm
I thought that including a story inspired by the tales of Sinbad the Sailor—among the most important and captivating sections of One Thousand and One Nights—would enrich this collection of tales and contribute to its dreamlike atmosphere.
Source
This story is inspired by a tale of the same name in Abdol-Latif Tasuji’s edition of One Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights, 1843–1844 CE). Sinbad, said to have lived in Baghdad during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 CE), is the hero of a series of stories within the collection. During seven voyages across the seas of East Africa and South Asia, he experiences extraordinary adventures in magical realms. The Sinbad tales are believed to be among the latest additions to the One Thousand and One Nights cycle.
My telling of the story
After returning from his first voyage, Sinbad enjoys a comfortable life in Baghdad for a time. Yet the desire for adventure soon returns, and he sets sail once more with a group of merchants.
While visiting a lush island, Sinbad becomes separated from his companions and falls asleep. When he awakens, he discovers the ship has left, leaving him stranded. While searching the island, he comes across a gigantic white dome—which turns out to be the egg of the legendary Roc, a colossal bird. Sinbad ties his turban to the bird's leg so that when it takes flight, it carries him away from the island. He’s taken to a deep valley with frightening snakes, and unusual trees whose fruit attracts large birds. But the island’s also filled with precious diamonds.
Sinbad figures out how the merchants take these diamonds. They throw pieces of meat into the valley, where they adhere to the diamonds. The birds then carry the meat to their nests, where the merchants collect the glittering treasure.
The merchants finally rescue Sinbad, and he shares some of the diamonds with them. Sinbad continues his travels, visiting wondrous islands and distant lands. He engages in trade, amasses great wealth, and eventually returns to Baghdad to live in prosperity.
Takeaways
In times of crisis, ingenuity and resourcefulness can lead to survival.
Great opportunities are often accompanied by risk and hardship, and success requires the ability to navigate these challenges.
Instead of trying to conquer the forces of nature, understand your environment and adapt to it.
Extraordinary tree (whose leaves resemble human hands), 48 x 45 x 40 cm