The History of the Marid Djinn

Djinn are mythological beings representing the natural elements. Those elements, naturally, are earth, fire, water, and air. Each of these elements were broken down into four classifications. The Marid djinn represented water, the Ifrit represent fire, the Jann represent earth, and the Shaitan represent air. In reality, there are a couple other distinct orders left to mention. The jinn are the weakest, because they worked heavily with humans and the Ghul, who were devoutly evil desert dwellers.

The Marid tribe was the smallest tribe to exist, however they are considered the most powerful. Stories vary greatly about who the true evil djinn were, but many have spoken as if the Marid were the most heinous of them all. However, another account mentions that the Marid were responsible for saving the entire djinn race from extinction by defeating both the Ifrit and Shaitan at the battle of the Council of Choice. Other stories mention the first djinn was actually a marid djinn, which is how the marid djinn were the most powerful.

If a weary traveller sought advice and safety on their journeys they needed the assistance of a Marid. The Marid were masters of weather control, so it was important to gain the trust and support of a marid. Without proper respect, there was a possibility a sailor's ship would be destroyed. The marid often inhabited the coastal areas of the Arabian peninsula and were seen travelling across water on a waterspout.

These djinn were the proudest of all the djinn and, some speculate, the most conceited. Their skin is seen as either blue or green, with hair that always looks wet. This is why the marid have also been referred to as the "blue" djinn. If the marid wanted to be seen by a human, they would take on the form of an old man, hare, or porpoise.

Though the Marid were the most power of all the djinn classes, they could still be manipulated to do a human's bidding. The marid were known to grant wishes, however their wishes tend to come through battle. They still had free will, like any other djinn, however they could be coerced into providing assistance to those who needed their abilities.

The Marid have become a wonder in modern times. Many still hold onto the belief in the magic of the djinn, as is evidenced when one glances around Ebay for a while. Ebay sellers offer many fantastic items surrounding the beliefs of the Marid djinn. Prices range greatly on these Arab antiquities. They have also been mentioned in modern stories like The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud and Children of the Lamp by P.B. Kerr.