The story opens in the royal palace of Caliph Abd al Malik ibn Marwan in Damascus, where tales circulate about ancient brass vessels forged in the age of King Solomon, each said to imprison a dangerous jinni sealed by divine magic. Fascinated by legends of lost power and forbidden knowledge, the caliph becomes determined to possess these relics. He commands Musa ibn Nusayr, the governor of the western provinces, to lead an expedition deep into the distant deserts of Maghreb in North Africa. Musa sets out with a disciplined army and is accompanied by Talib, an elderly scholar renowned for his learning but quietly driven by ambition.
As the expedition moves across barren lands, they repeatedly encounter ruined fortresses, fallen cities, and towering statues of bronze, all abandoned and half buried by sand. Inscribed on these monuments are poems that speak with a chilling clarity. Every king must die. No treasure can purchase a single extra breath of life. Musa, a devout and reflective man, is deeply shaken by these warnings. He weeps openly, realizing that even the greatest empires are temporary, destined to vanish just like the civilizations before them.
After months of travel, the army finally sees the legendary City of Brass, gleaming under the sun like a mirage. Its walls rise impossibly high, smooth and seamless, with no visible gates or openings. When soldiers climb the walls, they witness an unsettling sight. Inside the city stand people in markets and homes as if frozen in time. They appear alive, yet none move, speak, or even breathe. As the group explores further, they trigger ancient mechanical guardians, bronze automata powered by forgotten magic and engineering, which attack intruders without mercy. In the end, one knight sacrifices his life to open the city gates from within, allowing the others to enter.
At the heart of the city lies a magnificent palace overflowing with gold, jewels, and treasures beyond counting. On a golden throne sits a woman of extraordinary beauty, her gaze brilliant and lifelike. At first, the men believe she is alive, but they soon discover the truth. She is Princess Tadmur, long dead, her eyes replaced with perfectly cut gemstones designed to deceive the living. A tablet at her feet reveals the city’s fate. Once unimaginably wealthy, the city was struck by a seven year drought. Food disappeared, crops failed, and no amount of gold could buy bread. The people starved to death while sitting among their riches, proving that wealth without sustenance is meaningless.
Consumed by greed, Talib attempts to pry the jewels from the princess’s eyes, ignoring every warning the city has already given. Instantly, a hidden mechanism is triggered, and he is killed by a mechanical trap. Horrified and awakened, Musa refuses to take any treasure except for the sealed vessels of Solomon, the original purpose of his journey. He orders the army to leave the city untouched.
Upon returning to Damascus, Musa resigns from his position, abandoning political power and dedicating the rest of his life to worship and reflection. When Caliph Abd al Malik hears the full account, he too is transformed, understanding that ambition and conquest lead only to regret. He rules with greater humility and restraint, mindful of mortality.
The City of Brass stands as a powerful reminder of Memento Mori, the truth that death comes for all, regardless of wealth or strength. Its indestructible walls could not protect its people from time, hunger, or fate. The story also emphasizes wisdom and faith over material success, as Musa finds peace not in gold but in moral clarity. Finally, the tale reveals the astonishing imagination of early Arab storytelling, where mechanical guardians and ancient technology blend with theology, offering a vision of science fiction centuries before the modern age.