The phrase first appears in Antoine Galland's French translation of One Thousand and One Nights (1704–1717) as Sésame, ouvre-toi (English, "Sesame, open yourself").[1] In the story, Ali Baba overhears one of the 40 thieves saying "open sesame". His brother later cannot remember the phrase, and confuses it with the names of grains other than sesame, becoming trapped in the magic cave.
Galland's phrase has been variously translated from the French into English as "Sesame, open",[2] "Open, sesame" and "Open, O sesame".[3][failed verification]
Sesame seeds grow in a seed pod that splits open when it reaches maturity,[4] and the phrase possibly alludes to unlocking of treasures,[5] although it is not certain that the word "sesame" actually refers to the sesame plant or seed.[6]
Other theories include:
Sesame is a reduplication of the Hebrewšem 'name', i.e. God, or a kabbalistic word representing the Talmudicšem-šāmayīm ("shem-shamayim"), 'name of heaven'.[7]
Sesame is connected to Babylonian magic practices which used sesame oil.[8]
Classification
Open sesame has been classified by Stith Thompson as motif element D1552.2, "Mountain opens to magic formula".[9]
^. MDidea.com. 2015-11-30. Archived from the original on 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
^"Open Sesame". The New York Times Magazine. 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
^Armstrong, Marian (2007). Wildlife and Plants. Vol. 16. Marshall Cavendish. p. 972. ISBN978-0761477105. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
^Felix Ernst Peiser in Orientalistische Literaturzeitung (1902), as reported in Haupt.
^Theodor Nöldeke in Zeitschrift für Assyriologie (1914), as reported in Haupt.
^S. Thompson, Motif-index of folk-literature : a classification of narrative elements in folktales, ballads, myths, fables, mediaeval romances, exempla, fabliaux, jest-books, and local legends", 1955-1958. [1]cf.Aarne–Thompson classification system
Bibliography
(in English) Paul Haupt, "Open Sesame" in Beiträge zur assyriologie und semitischen Sprachwissenschaft10:2, 1927, p. 165ff. Originally presented at the meeting of the American Oriental Society, Washington, April 15, 1916.
April 05, 2023
open, sesame, french, sésame, ouvre, arabic, افتح, يا, سمسم, magical, phrase, story, baba, forty, thieves, antoine, galland, version, thousand, nights, opens, mouth, cave, which, forty, thieves, have, hidden, treasure, baba, overhearing, thieves, saying, open,. Open sesame French Sesame ouvre toi Arabic افتح يا سمسم is a magical phrase in the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in Antoine Galland s version of One Thousand and One Nights It opens the mouth of a cave in which forty thieves have hidden a treasure Ali Baba overhearing one of the thieves saying Open Sesame Contents 1 Etymology 2 Classification 3 See also 4 Notes 5 BibliographyEtymology EditThe phrase first appears in Antoine Galland s French translation of One Thousand and One Nights 1704 1717 as Sesame ouvre toi English Sesame open yourself 1 In the story Ali Baba overhears one of the 40 thieves saying open sesame His brother later cannot remember the phrase and confuses it with the names of grains other than sesame becoming trapped in the magic cave Galland s phrase has been variously translated from the French into English as Sesame open 2 Open sesame and Open O sesame 3 failed verification Sesame seeds grow in a seed pod that splits open when it reaches maturity 4 and the phrase possibly alludes to unlocking of treasures 5 although it is not certain that the word sesame actually refers to the sesame plant or seed 6 Other theories include Sesame is a reduplication of the Hebrew sem name i e God or a kabbalistic word representing the Talmudic sem samayim shem shamayim name of heaven 7 Sesame is connected to Babylonian magic practices which used sesame oil 8 Classification EditOpen sesame has been classified by Stith Thompson as motif element D1552 2 Mountain opens to magic formula 9 See also EditAbracadabra Barbarous names Hocus pocusNotes Edit Les mille et une nuits contes arabes traduits par Galland ornes de gravures Gallica bnf fr 2009 05 25 Retrieved 2013 08 15 The Novelist s Magazine Google Boeken 1785 Retrieved 2013 08 15 Burton Sesame Origin History Etymology and Mythology MDidea com 2015 11 30 Archived from the original on 2018 01 25 Retrieved 2018 01 25 Open Sesame The New York Times Magazine 2015 04 08 Retrieved 2018 01 25 Armstrong Marian 2007 Wildlife and Plants Vol 16 Marshall Cavendish p 972 ISBN 978 0761477105 Retrieved 2014 12 24 Felix Ernst Peiser in Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 1902 as reported in Haupt Theodor Noldeke in Zeitschrift fur Assyriologie 1914 as reported in Haupt S Thompson Motif index of folk literature a classification of narrative elements in folktales ballads myths fables mediaeval romances exempla fabliaux jest books and local legends 1955 1958 1 cf Aarne Thompson classification systemBibliography Edit in English Paul Haupt Open Sesame in Beitrage zur assyriologie und semitischen Sprachwissenschaft 10 2 1927 p 165ff Originally presented at the meeting of the American Oriental Society Washington April 15 1916 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Open sesame amp oldid 1144857516, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
