Welcome to Aesop's fables!

On Aesop

Little is known about the life of Aesop. According to historical facts he was a slave, who lived in the sixth century BC in ancient Greece. Some legends suggest Aesop was an ugly hunchbacked slave, although his real appearance is a mystery. One thing is known for sure - Aesop was a very smart, resourceful and inventive man. And thanks to these qualities he was able to acquire his freedom.

One of the most famous legends tells that during a feast, the lord of Aesop too boldly stated that he would drink the sea. If he couldn't he would lose all his wealth. The next morning, realizing his claim was impossible to complete, he called Aesop. The slave quickly realized the trouble his master was in and promised that he would help save his dignity and honor. Both men went to the seashore to face a noisy crowd, gathered to see how the stupid man would "drink the sea". Aesop explained to the people that his master could "drink" the sea, but for the rules to be met all the water from the rivers and lakes, flowing into the sea, should be removed. Needless to say, nobody was able to separate the sea, and the master saved his wealth and honor. As a reward Aesop received his freedom.

In every story, whose character is Aesop, he was always smarter than his master, and wiser than the wisest. That is why the Delphic priests of the temple of the Greek god Apollo did not forgive the wisdom of the slave. Legend has it Aesop was thrown into the sea from a cliff, accused in stealing a golden cup from a temple. The immoral actions of the priests was punished by Apollo, who sends plague to sicken his unworthy servants in his Delphic shrine.

We can only speculate whether this is the truth about the death of Aesop. We do know, however, that with his name is associated with the emergence of fables as a genre in Greek literature. Aesop takes themes and ideas from the folklore heritage to create his works. The fables of Aesop were not written in his lifetime, but passed on from mouth to mouth. Over time, other fables were credited to Aesop. Finally, a collection of 352 interesting and original works, simply called called "Aesop's fables", were created.

On Aesop's Fables

As a genre of fables are close to the artistic atmosphere of fairy tales about animals. Observing the life and characteristics of animals, the fabulist makes a comparison between them and the moral characteristics of men.

Trickery is not only exclusive to the fox, calmness - not only for pigeons, deceit - not only for the snake, cowardice - not just for rabbits. All these properties can be encountered in the conduct of people. Seeing these similarities, people began to call one another fox, snake, rabbit in their domestic relations. But the images of animals and plants also have a parabolic meaning. The donkey began to express the characteristics of a hard and stupid man, the sheep - of the gentle and harmless, the snake - of the evil and vindictive, and the wolf reveals the nature of an evil and cruel man.

In that sence Aesop summarizes the essential morals of his time, giving them a satirical evaluation. To hide the sharpness of his critics, but also to provoke the resourcefulness of people, Aesop often likens people with animals and plants. This particular sense of expression has been associated with Aesop throughout the centuries, starting from ancient Greece, going into Rome and Byzantium, reaching the Renaissance and surviving until today. Since the time of Aesop the fable was a powerful tool to expose and ridicule our ills and vices as people and as a society.

The fable may be short, but offers a wise lesson in the end. It is up to us to discover ourselves what is hidden behind the images presented by the author.

 

 

Page 1
Contents: The Cock and the Pearl; The Wolf and the Lamb; The Dog and the Shadow; The Lion's Share; The Wolf and the Crane

 

Page 2
Contents: The Man and the Serpent; The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse; The Fox and the Crow; The Sick Lion

 

Page 3
Contents: The Ass and the Lapdog; The Lion and the Mouse; The Swallow and the Other Birds; The Frogs Desiring a King

 

Page 4
Contents: The Mountains in Labour; The Hares and the Frogs; The Wolf and the Kid; The Bald Man and the Fly; The Woodsman and the Serpent; The Fox and the Stork

 

Page 5
Contents: The Fox and the Mask; The Jay and the Peacock; The Frog and the Ox; Androcles; The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts

 

Page 6
Contents: The Hart and the Hunter; The Serpent and the File; The Man and the Wood; The Dog and the Wolf; The Belly and the Members; The Hart in the Ox-Stall

 

Page 7
Contents: The Fox and the Grapes; The Horse, Hunter, and Stag; The Peacock and Juno; The Fox and the Lion; The Lion and the Statue

 

Page 8
Contents: The Ant and the Grasshopper; The Tree and the Reed; The Fox and the Cat; The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing; The Dog in the Manger; The Man and the Wooden God

 

Page 9
Contents:The Fisher; The Shepherd's Boy; The Young Thief and His Mother; The Man and His Two Wives; The Nurse and the Wolf

 

Page 10
Contents: The Tortoise and the Birds; The Two Crabs; The Ass in the Lion's Skin; The Two Fellows and the Bear; The Two Pots; The Four Oxen and the Lion

 

Page 11
Contents: The Fisher and the Little Fish; Avaricious and Envious; The Crow and the Pitcher; The Man and the Satyr; The Goose With the Golden Eggs

 

Page 12
Contents: The Labourer and the Nightingale; The Fox, the Cock, and the Dog; The Wind and the Sun; Hercules and the Waggoneer; The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey

 

Page 13
Contents: The Miser and His Gold; The Fox and the Mosquitoes; The Fox Without a Tail; The One-Eyed Doe

 

Page 14
Contents: Belling the Cat; The Hare and the Tortoise; The Old Man and Death; The Hare With Many Friends

 

Page 15
Contents: The Lion in Love; The Bundle of Sticks; The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts; The Ass's Brains; The Eagle and the Arrow; The Milkmaid and Her Pail

 

Page 16
Contents: The Cat-Maiden; The Horse and the Ass; The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner; The Buffoon and the Countryman; The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar; The Fox and the Goat