<P> Rapunzel 's story has striking similarities to the 11th - century Persian tale of Rudāba , included in the epic poem Shahnameh by Ferdowsi . Rudāba offers to let down her hair from her tower so that her lover Zāl can climb up to her . Some elements of the fairy tale might also have originally been based upon the tale of Saint Barbara , who was said to have been locked in a tower by her father . </P>
<P> Rapunzel 's story has striking similarities to the 11th - century Persian tale of Rudāba , included in the epic poem Shahnameh by Ferdowsi . Rudāba offers to let down her hair from her tower so that her lover Zāl can climb up to her . Some elements of the fairy tale might also have originally been based upon the tale of Saint Barbara , who was said to have been locked in a tower by her father . </P>
where did the story of rapunzel come from
where did the story of rapunzel come from
11th - century Persian tale of Rudāba
11th - century Persian tale of Rudāba