How Many Thieves?
The number of thieves Ali Baba confronted is forty, which is directly referenced in the tale's title and repeatedly confirmed through every retelling of the story.
Explaining the Number
In the folklore, Ali Baba secretly observes a gang of forty thieves entering their hidden cave by uttering the magical command "Open Sesame". This specific number—forty—appears in every canonical version of the tale and is regarded as symbolically significant in Arabian folklore, representing a formidable but countable group of adversaries.
Search Intent Answers
The immediate answer users seek for crossword clues, quizzes, or homework about "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" is "forty".
For crossword puzzles, the answer is "FORTY" (five letters).
Related Information
The thieves are portrayed as bandits who hide stolen treasures in a secret mountain cave, accessible only by a magical phrase.
Ali Baba, a humble woodcutter, discovers their secret and cleverly survives repeated attempts on his life by the thieves, highlighting themes of ingenuity and courage.
Number of thieves faced by Ali Baba NYT Mini - FAQs
Q: Why forty thieves?
The number forty is often used in folklore to represent a meaningful, significant, or mystical quantity, and it makes the band of thieves appear organized and intimidating.
Q: Is the number always forty in every version?
Yes, every major version of the story refers consistently to forty thieves.