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“Welcome to Agrabah, city of mystery, of enchantment, and the finest merchandise this side of the River Jordan! On sale today! Come on down!”
Agrabah is the central location of the 1992 Disney animated feature film, Aladdin. It is a glimmering, bustling Arabian desert kingdom, currently under the rule of a kind-hearted Sultan and his daughter, Princess Jasmine.
Background
Agrabah is located near the Jordan River (as the narrator tells during the first minutes of the film). The city was founded by a man named Hamed, an ancestor of the Sultan and Jasmine. The Sultan is assisted by his council, which consists of various diplomats that aid the sovereign in governing the city. One notable councilman was Jafar, who served as the Sultan's Royal Vizier for a number of years.
Agrabah is described as "a city of mystery, of enchantment", and as such, has had numerous encounters with the fantastical throughout its existence. Some of which includes sorcerers, genies, and flying carpets.
Agrabah is a melting pot of social classes; the wealthy tend to live closer to the Sultan's palace, while the poor live closer to Agrabah's entry wall. Agrabah's more unfortunate citizens are commonly known as "street rats" (fem. "street mouse") and are ostracized as a group. The city also has an infamous underworld, with one area in particular being known as the "Thieves Quarters". The city is protected by the Royal Guard, headed by Razoul.
Agrabah is based on and is largely inspired by the Iraqi city of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age, but more broadly represents classical Islamicate societies, including the Abbasid Caliphate, medieval Persia, and Mughal India. Agrabah's architecture, including its palace and marketplace, was inspired by Islamic architecture, which encompasses Arabic architecture, Persian architecture, and Indo-Islamic architecture. The city's royal palace appears to be inspired by the Indian city of Agra's Taj Mahal, which is a product of Indo-Islamic Mughal architecture.
Places of Interest
The Sultan's Palace: The home of the Sultan and Jasmine. Following his marriage to the princess, Aladdin and his friends took up residence in the palace. At night, the palace is illuminated.
Bazaar: The marketplace where Aladdin and his sidekick Abu were usually found when scrapping for food and ducking from guards before they became royal. Now it is a popular destination for Aladdin, Jasmine, and the others to browse and sightsee.
Aladdin's home: A rundown hovel where Aladdin spent most of his young life, with his monkey Abu. It is located far from the palace, but its elevated placement provides a stunning view of the city.
The Royal Academy: A small but roomy one room school where Sharma and Jasmine teach.
Thieves Quarters: A seedy part of the city, where crooks and rogues gather to fraternize.
Desert: A large landscape located right outside Agrabah's gates. It is widely known as the Seven Deserts and holds many of the mysteries Agrabah is famous for along with various other neighboring kingdoms.
Cave of Wonders: A large and mysterious cave in the shape of a tiger found in the middle of the desert. The cave holds many treasures and magical items, most notable Genie's magic lamp and the Magic Carpet.
Trivia
The technical name for a country ruled by a Sultan is a Sultanate.
The original Arabic folk tale of Aladdin was originally set in China, specifically an Islamic city in China (most likely an Uyghur kingdom in the Xinjiang region).
In the Disney version, the setting was originally intended to be Baghdad. But due to political tensions involving Iraq at the time, the setting was changed to the fictional city of Agrabah.
The name "Agrabah" appears to be a reference both the Indian city of Agra (where the Taj Mahal is) and the Iraqi city of Baghdad (which the city is largely based on).
As revealed in "Do the Rat Thing", the Sultan rarely leaves the palace.
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