Available Variants
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Ali Baba was a poor woodcutter who one day saw forty thieves hiding their treasure in a cave sealed by magic words. 'Open Sesame!' the chief called, and the rock split open. After the thieves left, Ali Baba spoke the same words and entered. He took a single bag of gold home.
His brother Cassim grew jealous and went to the cave himself, but forgot the magic word when trying to leave. The thieves found him and killed him. They discovered Ali Baba's theft and tried to kill him too, hiding in oil jars brought to his house. But his clever slave girl Morgiana discovered the plot, boiled oil, and poured it into the jars, destroying the thieves one by one.
Field Notes
My Folklore Journal
Record your thoughts, motifs you noticed, or personal connections to this tale.
Cross-Cultural Sister Tales
Like Aladdin, this story was added to the Arabian Nights by Antoine Galland and was not part of the original Arabic manuscripts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial Review
Reviewed by
Dr. Eleanor Vance, Folklore Studies
Last updated
April 1, 2026
Sources & References
- 1.Aarne, A. & Thompson, S. — The Types of the Folktale (1961)
- 2.Lindahl, C. — European Folklore: An Encyclopedia (2004)
- 3.Dorson, R. — Peasant Customs and Savage Myths (1968)
Community Discussion
I love how this variant emphasizes the role of the magical helper. It's so different from the version I grew up with!
The ATU 510A classification really helps in seeing the structural similarities with Ye Xian. Fascinating stuff.
