Parī

A parī or peri is a supernatural entity originating from Persian tales and distributed into wider Asian folklore. The parīs are often described as winged creatures of immense beauty who are structured in societies similar to that of humans. Unlike jinn, the parīs usually feature in tales involving supernatural elements.

Over time, the depiction of parīs was subject to change and reconsideration. In early Persian beliefs, the parīs were probably a class of evil spirits and only later received a positive reception. In the Islamic period, the parī already developed into morally complex beings with a generally positive connotation of immense beauty, and late in the tenth century, were integrated into the Arab houri-tale tradition. They are often contrasted by their nemesis the ugly dīvs.

Despite their beauty, the parīs are also feared because they are said to abduct people and take them to their home-world, Parīstān, or punish people for social transgressions.