The Slave Market
A shadowed bazaar where human lives are traded under the watchful eyes of corrupt guards.
The Slave Market is a recurring location within the Prince of Persia franchise, but it does not appear in the 2008 reboot developed by Ubisoft Montreal. That game is set in a mythical, largely abandoned kingdom with no human NPCs to buy or sell, and the Prince rescues Elika from a temple, not a slave market. In earlier games, the Slave Market serves as a grim marketplace where captives are bought and sold, often acting as a narrative hub that introduces the player to the darker socio-political realities of the kingdom or the corrupt forces opposing the Prince.
- First Appears
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (or earlier titles, not 2008)
- Affiliation
- Various (not the 2008 game's corrupted king or Ahriman)
- Location Type
- Dungeon / City District
- Primary Function
- Trade of Captives and Goods
- Key Characters
- The Prince, Guards, Merchants, Captives
Lore & Background
The architecture of the Slave Market blends traditional Persian design with elements of decay and oppression. High walls and barred gates prevent escape, while the presence of armed guards ensures order through fear. The market is not just a physical space but a symbol of corruption that has taken root in the kingdom. However, in the 2008 reboot, there is no such location; the game features no stealth mechanics, no emphasis on avoiding guards or sneaking, and combat is minimal with the Prince unable to die. The story involves a corrupted king (not a sultan) and a god-like antagonist (Ahriman), not a vizier.
In Their Own Story
The air was thick with dust and the metallic tang of fear. The Prince crouched behind a stack of rotting crates, watching as a merchant dragged a young girl toward a waiting cart. Her eyes were wide with terror, but her silence betrayed no sound of struggle. A guard's boot crunched on gravel nearby, the rhythm steady and menacing. He knew he had to move now, before the next bell tolled the closing of the gates.
Reader's Guide
The Slave Market is a dense urban environment characterized by narrow winding alleys and enclosed courtyards. Architecturally, it features arched doorways, hanging lanterns that cast flickering shadows, and stalls draped in tattered fabrics. Hidden areas often include secret passages behind movable crates or rooftops accessible via climbing vines and ledges. These routes allow the Prince to bypass heavily guarded sections and reach key objectives undetected. Narratively, this location serves as a critical checkpoint where the player confronts the human cost of the Vizier's schemes. Successfully navigating the market often involves rescuing captives or retrieving items that advance the main storyline.
Did You Know?
- The Slave Market does not appear in Prince of Persia (2008); that game has no human NPCs to buy or sell, and the Prince rescues Elika from a temple, not a slave market.
- This location appears in multiple forms across different games, reflecting its thematic importance to the franchise's exploration of justice and corruption.
- In the 2008 game, there are no emotionally charged rescue sequences involving a slave market; rescues involve freeing Elika from corrupted areas.
More in World & Locations
Elsewhere in the Prince of Persia universe
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