Name - Origin
A sesame product.
Functional and symbolic role
‘Sisami’ is recorded among other desserts and, therefore, we can assume that this is not about just sesame seeds, but it is about a sweet preparation made with sesame. This sweet is already recorded in ancient Greek sources.
Additional information and bibliography
It is mentioned amongst other desserts by Clearchus of Soli (4th-3rd c. BC) in his work ‘On riddles’. The passage is quoted by Athenaeus (2nd-3rd c. AD) in his work 'Dipnosophistae'.
Athenaeus, Dipnosophistae 14.649a in: Gulick, C.B. translation (1980) Athenaeus-The Deipnosophists, Loeb Classical Library vol.6. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 506-507.
Natassa Charalambous
Traditional Recipes
Sisamopittes
The recipe comes from Marathasa. Sesamopites were one of the products sold by the people of Marathasa at festivals, along with porika, nuts, shoushoukko and pastellin.