Down on your luck? Looking for a come-up? Rub an old oil lamp and you never know, a Jinn might pop out from the spout and make your dreams come true. Or not, given that the original Jinn - or Genies, as they are mistaken for - aren’t the subservient lamp-dwelling beings Western culture makes them out to be.

These invisible creatures have roots in ancient Mesopotamian legends and were later incorporated into Islamic mythology and theology. In the Qurʾān, the Jinn are conceptualised as spirits not totally unlike humans, capable of choosing between good or evil. Spoiler alert: some of them choose violence, and are said to take pleasure in punishing humans for any harm done to them. Your best bet? Step away from the lamp.