Search Results for: Babrius

Sources to fables are many and translations differ for the same fable in these different sources. In an attempt to make some sense of this Ben Edwin Perry published a survey of Greek and Latin fables in the Aesopic tradition in his Aesopica, published in 1952. That survey was published in Latin and Greek to be consistent with the original fable collections but an English version of the index to the survey was published as an appendix to the Loeb Classical Library Babrius and Phaedrus Fables which was translated and edited by Perry. The index numbers found listed below and throughout this site are consistent with the Perry survey. The Aesopica website has more information about the Perry list and explains why there might be gaps in the links here between fables and the list.

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Throughout history fables have been a popular method of giving instruction. Fables contain a short narrative that seeks to illustrate a hidden message. Generally, fables use animals or objects as part of the narrative yet the message is designed to apply to humans. By doing this, the fabulist is not perceived as the teacher and this reduces any bias the listeners might have against the person. The most famous fabulist would be Aesop who most date around 620 B.C. Many fables are attributed to Aesop, but it’s unclear how many he actually wrote; indeed, his historical existence as a person is under question. I’ve collected many of them here for your enjoyment. A number of translations were found and the fables collected. Several different translations and interpretations of the same fable may be found on many of the pages here; including, now and again, a simplified version I wrote.

[Read more…] about Aesop’s Fables Home Page