6. The Joseph Story or Zambilfrosh

This story fuses the Quranic narrative of Joseph the Egyptian with the Kurdistani tale of the wandering basket-seller who resists seduction, Zambilfrosh. The protagonist was the son of a king who was wondering through the world and was imprisoned in a foreign country. One day, he was able to explain the king’s dream, after which the king made him his advisor. The king’s wife tried to seduce him and tempted him with great wealth. Zambilfrosh, however, resisted, claiming that he was a simple basket-seller who did not deserve any royal privileges or a royal wife. One day, the protagonist’s brothers came for grain. Zambilfrosh tricked them by accusing them of theft, but then revealed his identity to them. The brothers were reconciled and Zambilfrosh became their leader.