GOOD MONDAY MORNING, POU!
This week’s series is all about Aesop’s Fables.
Coin image from ancient Delphi, thought by Theodor Panofka to depict Delphos, the legendary founder of the city. William Martin Leake suggested such images might depict Aesop, presumably to commemorate his execution at Delphi. There are several such coin specimens from Delphi, dated as early as 520 BC.(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
Aesop, an ancient and famous Black storyteller, was born…620 BC. Aesop is known for his stories, which are called “Aesop’s Fables,” which have become a blanket term for collections of brief fables, usually involving anthropomorphic animals.
Aesop was a Black slave of Iadmon, located in the south of Greece near northern Africa. Most accounts describe Aesop as a deformed man whose name came from the Greek word Aethiops which means Ethiopia.
According to Herodotus, he lived in Samos in the 6th century BC and eventually was freed by his master, receiving his liberation in Iadmon. Other accounts connect him with many wild adventures and attach him with such rulers as Solon and Croesus.
The first extensive translation of Aesop into Latin was done by Phaedrus, a freedman of Augustus in the first century AD. The first printed version of Aesop’s Fables in English was published on March 26, 1484, by William Caxton. William Dugard translated his stories from the Greek text of Planudes in 1715. There he also describes Aesop as one whom “Nature had gratified with an ingenious mind, but the Law had enslaved.” Physically he had a large head, bowed legs, and a large belly.
During the reign of Peisistratus, Aesop visited Athens, where he told the fable of “The Frogs Asking for a King.” He told the story to deter the citizens from attempting to replace Peisistratus with another ruler.
He prospered most about 550 BC, and was killed around 560 BC, ordered probably by a decree of the Delphic oracle, according to historical legends. It also has been said that compensation for his death was claimed by the grandson of his master.
(SOURCE: African American Registry)
The Aging Sick Lion
A lion, unable from old age and illness to provide himself with food by force, resolved to do so by cunning. He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them.
After many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was.
“I am very fairly well,” replied the Lion, “but why do you stand without? Pray enter within to talk with me.” “No, thank you,” said the Fox. “I notice that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of any returning.”
MORAL: A wise man learns from the misfortunes of others.
(SOURCE: W.E.B. DuBois Learning Center)