Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves

"Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" is a folk tale from One Thousand and One Nights. It was included in the collection in the 18th century by its French translator Antoine Galland. The latter reported he heard those stories from Syrian storyteller Hanna Diyab. According to the plot, Ali Baba is a poor woodcutter who discovers the secret of a thieves' den and opens it with the magic phrase «Open Sesame.» The thieves try to kill Ali Baba, and he has saved his life, protected his family, and overcame many challenges.