Aesop’s Fables

Contents

Little is certain about Aesop himself. The historian Herodotus, writing in the 5th century BCE, placed him in the 6th century BCE and said he had been a slave; he may be partly or wholly legendary. The first known collection of fables under his name was made by Demetrius of Phalerum in the 4th century BCE (Britannica). Most of the games here are over in less than a minute.

1. I. The Tortoise and the Hare1A boastful hare naps mid-race while a tortoise keeps on plodding. Game: Slow and Steady
2. II. The Boy Who Cried Wolf2A shepherd boy's false alarms come back to bite him. Game: Wolf Watch
3. III. The Fox and the Grapes3A fox who can't reach the grapes decides they were sour anyway. Game: Leap for the Grapes
4. IV. The Ant and the Grasshopper4The ants work all summer; the grasshopper only sings. Game: Before the Frost
5. V. The Lion and the Mouse5A tiny mouse repays a great lion's mercy. Game: Gnaw the Net
6. VI. The Crow and the Pitcher6A thirsty crow solves a problem one pebble at a time. Game: Pebbles in the Pitcher
7. VII. The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs7A greedy couple wants all the gold at once. Game: One Egg a Day
8. VIII. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse8A grand feast loses its flavour when eaten in fear. Game: Feast in Fear
9. IX. The North Wind and the Sun9Wind and Sun compete to make a traveler take off his cloak. Game: Off with the Cloak
10. X. The Dog and His Reflection10A dog drops his dinner chasing a bigger one in the water. Game: Real or Reflection?
11. XI. The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing11A wolf in disguise is caught by his own trick. Game: Find the Wolf
12. XII. The Fox and the Crow12A flattering fox tricks a crow into dropping her meat. Game: Hold Your Tongue