Peri

A peri, also spelled pari, is a supernatural entity originating in Persian tales that spread into wider Asian folklore. Peris are usually described as winged beings of great beauty, organized into societies that resemble those of humans, and are distinguished in this respect from jinn. Early Persian belief held that peris were a class of evil spirits, and only later came to be seen in a positive light; by the Islamic period the peri had developed into a morally complex being generally viewed with a positive connotation, and late in the tenth century the figure was absorbed into the Arab houri storytelling tradition. Peris are often contrasted with their traditional enemies, the divs, and despite their beauty they were also feared, since they were said to abduct people and carry them off to their home realm, or punish people for social transgressions.