# Mercury and the Sculptor explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

Mercury, disguised as a man, visits a sculptor's studio to learn how he is valued by mankind. He asks the prices of statues of Jupiter and Juno, then points to a statue of himself, only to be told it will be thrown in for free if he buys the other two.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pride and Folly

Mercury's vanity leads him to seek validation, only to be humbled by the sculptor's dismissive offer.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Mercury's disguise conceals his divine identity, and the perceived value of his statue contrasts sharply with his true worth.

## Character check-ins

### Mercury

Disguises himself as a man to test his own reputation among mortals.

### Jupiter

Statue present in the sculptor's studio, priced at a crown.

### Juno

Statue present in the sculptor's studio, priced at half a crown.

## Key lines

> Mercury was very anxious to know in what estimation he was held by mankind; so he disguised himself as a man and walked into a Sculptor’s studio

Mercury wanted to find out how much people valued him, so he put on a disguise and visited a sculptor's workshop.

_Sets up the central irony of the fable._

> That one? said the Sculptor; Oh, I’ll throw him in for nothing if you’ll buy the other two.

The sculptor offered to give away the statue of Mercury for free if Mercury bought the statues of Jupiter and Juno.

_Reveals the low esteem in which Mercury is held, despite his high self-regard._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/mercury-and-the-sculptor
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