Simsim
, sesame, a family of plants with some 16 classes, of which sesamum
indicum or sesamum orientale, Pedaliaceae , primarily qualifies for
consideration. Sesame is an ancient cultivated plant, whose habitat is
probably in Central Asia and which spread in the tropics and sub-tropics.
The name can be derived from Akkadian s̲ h̲ amas̲ h̲ s̲ h̲ ammu , which
became on the ¶ one hand Greek σήσαμν, on the other Arabic sumsum
and the more usual simsim via Hebrew s̲ h̲ ums̲ h̲ ōn and Aramaic s̲ h̲ us̲ h̲ mā
(and variants). An often-used synonym is d̲ j̲ uld̲ j̲ ulān , wrongly interpreted
by some authors (like Ibn Baklāris̲ h̲ , Mustaʿīnī , ms. Naples fol. 71b) as
coriander ( kuzbara ). The greasy oil of sesame is indicated as duhn al-
ḥall (sic, al-k̲ h̲ all is wrong), as ṣalīṭ d̲ j̲ uld̲ j̲ ulān or s̲ h̲ īrad̲ j̲ (Persian s̲ h̲ īra ).
The small, angular, yellow-white to black seeds are kept in elongated
capsules which develop from the blossoms of the plant. In many
countries, sesame is an important foodstuff. In India sesame flour is
boiled into pulp, in Asia Minor and in Egypt bread and pastry are
flavoured with sesame. If pressed when cold, sesame oil is liquid,
odourless and of a pleasant taste. Like olive oil, it has served at all times
as a valuable salad oil, and also as a substitute for butter fat (samn ).
In medicine, sesame belongs to the softening and resolving remedies.
When grilled and eaten with linseed (bad̲ h̲ r al-kattān), it increases
virility. It is quite efficient against breathing difficulties and asthma, as
well as against coughing and hoarseness. Sesame may harm the stomach,
but this can be avoided or alleviated if it is taken together with honey.
Sesame herb boiled in wine is efficient against inflammation of the eye.
Its oil is a remedy against raw and chapped skin and brings ulcers to
ripening. Mixed with attar, it soothes headaches originating from sunburn
( iḥrāḳ al-s̲ h̲ ams ). It is also used in cosmetics. In the bazaars of Cairo,
sesame is sold in great quantities, but, in pursuit of profit, lotus seeds
(nīlūfar ) are often deceitfully passed off as d̲ j̲ uld̲ j̲ ulān miṣrī , and the
seeds of the black poppy ( k̲ h̲ as̲ h̲ k̲ h̲ ās̲ h̲ aswad ) as d̲ j̲ uld̲ j̲ ulān al-ḥabas̲ h̲ a .
Finally, there were also “sesame-like” plants ( sisāmuwīdā ,
σησαμοειδές), a large one and a small one, which were considered as
classes of a wild sesame (simsim barrī ) (A. Dietrich, Dioscurides
triumphans , Göttingen 1988, iv, 138-52).
As a means to neutralise magic, sesame is already mentioned in
Babylonian-Assyrian incantations. Until today, the Arabs consider
sesame presses as dwelling-places of spirits. The formula “Sesame, open
your door” (not “Sesame, open up”) became popular through the well-
known story of Ali Baba and the forty thieves from Alf layla wa-layla
(270th night).
(A. Dietrich)
Bibliography
Abū Ḥanīfa, K. al-Nabāt, no. 528
Rāzī, Ḥāwī, xxi, 36-9 (no. 442)
Maimonides, S̲ h̲ arḥ al-ʿuḳḳār, ed. M. Meyerhof, Cairo 1940, no. 268
Ibn al-Bayṭār, Ḏj̲ āmiʿ, iii, 30-1 (Leclerc no. 1218)
Suwaydī, K. al-Simāt, ms. Paris ar. 3004, fol. 200b
Tuḥfat al-aḥbāb, ed. Renaud and Colin, no. 367
Anṭākī, Tad̲ h̲ kira, i, 198
M.A.H. Ducros, Le droguier populaire arabe... du Caire, Cairo 1930, no.
129
A. Dietrich, Dioscurides triumphans, ii, 83
idem, Die Dioskurides-Erklärung des Ibn al-Bayṭār, Göttingen 1991, ii,
84.
