Aesop's Fables · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Aesop's Fables by Aesop.
The Fox
major
Also known as A Fox, Fox, the Fox, Reynard the Fox
A cunning and adaptable character who appears in many fables, often outwitting others.
The Lion
major
Also known as A Lion, The Lion, the Lion, The Wily Lion
The king of beasts, often portrayed as powerful but sometimes gullible or merciful.
The Ass
major
Also known as Ass, The Ass, the Ass, an Ass, the Wild Ass
A hardworking but often foolish beast of burden, frequently the butt of jokes.
The Wolf
major
Also known as A Wolf, The Wolf, the Wolf, Wolf
A predatory and often greedy character who schemes to catch prey but is frequently outwitted.
Jupiter
major
Also known as Jupiter, Great Jupiter
The king of the gods, often appealed to by animals and humans for justice or favors.
The Mouse
supporting
Also known as a Mouse, the Mouse, The Mouse, The unhappy Mouse
A small but resourceful creature who often helps larger animals in unexpected ways.
The Monkey
supporting
Also known as The Monkey, the Monkey, O Monkey
A clever and imitative animal who often gets into trouble due to vanity or foolishness.
The Eagle
supporting
Also known as An Eagle, The Eagle, the Eagle
A majestic bird of prey, often representing power and swift justice.
The Frogs
supporting
Also known as The Frogs, the Frogs, Frog, The Frog, the Frog
A group of amphibians who often complain about their lot and seek change.
The Goat
supporting
Also known as The Goat, the Goat, A Goat
A stubborn but sometimes wise animal who interacts with the Fox and others.
The Hares
supporting
Also known as The Hares, the Hares
Timid creatures who learn lessons about courage and fear.
Mercury
supporting
Also known as Mercury
The messenger god who tests human honesty and rewards virtue.
The Stag
supporting
Also known as The Stag, the Stag, A Stag, The unlucky Stag, The Sick Stag
A proud but often vain deer who learns about the value of his own attributes.
The Sheep
supporting
Also known as The Sheep, the Sheep, A Sheep, The foolish Sheep
A gentle and often victimized animal, frequently preyed upon by the Wolf.
The Crow
supporting
Also known as The Crow, the Crow, A Crow, Crow
A clever but vain bird who is easily flattered and tricked.
The Tortoise
supporting
Also known as The Tortoise, the Tortoise, Tortoise
A slow but determined creature who wins races through persistence.
The Ant
supporting
Also known as Ants, The Ants, the Ants, Ant
A hardworking insect who teaches lessons about industry and preparation.
The Dog
supporting
Also known as A Dog, the Dog, The Dog, the Hound, The Hound
A loyal but sometimes greedy animal who appears in many fables.
The Farmer
supporting
Also known as A Farmer, The Farmer, the Farmer, The Ploughman, the Ploughman
A hardworking human who often interacts with animals and learns moral lessons.
The Woodman
supporting
Also known as The Woodman, the Woodman, A Woodman, The Hunter
An honest laborer who is tested by Mercury for his integrity.
The Miller
supporting
Also known as The Miller, the Miller, the unfortunate Miller
A tradesman who appears in fables about business and common sense.
The Goatherd
supporting
Also known as The Goatherd, the Goatherd, A Goatherd
A shepherd of goats who learns lessons about trust and responsibility.
The Jackdaw
supporting
Also known as The Jackdaw, the Jackdaw, Jackdaw, The Vain Jackdaw, The Escaped Jackdaw
A vain bird who tries to pass as a peacock and is punished for his pride.
The Bramble
minor
Also known as a Bramble, the Bramble, The Bramble
A thorny bush that argues with other plants about usefulness.
The Bull
minor
Also known as The Bull, the Bull, A Bull, Bull
A strong animal often used to represent brute force or stubbornness.
The Cat
supporting
Also known as The Cat, the Cat, A Cat, Cat
A cunning predator who often outwits mice and birds.
The Cock
minor
Also known as The Cock, the Cock, Cock
A proud bird who crows at dawn and sometimes falls prey to the Fox.
The Crane
minor
Also known as A Crane, The Crane, the Crane
A long-legged bird who competes with the Peacock in beauty.
Death
minor
Also known as Death
The personification of death who appears to an old man seeking relief.
The Doctor
minor
Also known as the Doctor, The Doctor, The Quack Doctor
A medical professional who appears in fables about false expertise.
The Dolphins
minor
Also known as The Dolphins, the Dolphins
Sea creatures who interact with a Sprat in a fable about size and power.
The Flea
minor
Also known as The Flea, the Flea, A Flea
A tiny insect who boasts about his exploits to a Man.
The Fly
minor
Also known as The Fly, the Fly, A Fly
A buzzing insect who annoys animals and learns about his own insignificance.
Fortune
minor
Also known as Fortune, Dame Fortune
The personification of luck who appears to a farmer.
The Fowler
minor
Also known as The Fowler, the Fowler, A Fowler, Fowler
A bird catcher who sets traps and snares for various birds.
The Gnat
minor
Also known as The Gnat, the Gnat, A Gnat
A tiny insect who challenges the Bull and the Lion.
The Grasshopper
minor
Also known as The Grasshopper, the Grasshopper, a Grasshopper, Grasshopper
A carefree insect who sings all summer and suffers in winter.
The Hare
supporting
Also known as The Hare, the Hare, a Hare, A Hare
A fast but overconfident animal who loses a race to the Tortoise.
Hercules
minor
Also known as Hercules
A divine hero who appears in fables about strength and wisdom.
The Horse
minor
Also known as The Horse, the Horse, A Horse
A proud animal who often seeks help from humans against other animals.
The Kid
minor
Also known as The Kid, the Kid
A young goat who is warned about the Wolf.
The Lamb
minor
Also known as The Lamb, the Lamb, Lamb
An innocent young sheep who is unjustly accused by the Wolf.
The Mice
supporting
Also known as the Mice, Mice, The Mice
Small rodents who hold councils and try to avoid the Cat.
The Miser
minor
Also known as The Miser, A Miser, the Miser
A greedy man who hoards gold and loses everything.
The Moon
minor
Also known as The Moon, the Moon
A celestial body personified in fables about mothers and children.
The Old Man
minor
Also known as An Old Man, Man
An elderly human who calls upon Death to end his suffering.
The Owl
minor
Also known as The Owl, the Owl, Owl
A wise bird who advises other birds but is often ignored.
The Ox
minor
Also known as the Ox, The Ox, an Ox, Ox
A strong and patient work animal who appears in several fables.
The Peacock
minor
Also known as The Peacock, the Peacock, A Peacock, Peacock
A vain bird who is proud of his beautiful feathers.
The Pig
minor
Also known as The Pig, the Pig, A Pig, Pig
A farm animal who argues with the Sheep about their different fates.
The Satyr
minor
Also known as the Satyr, The Satyr
A mythical creature who tests a man's character with hot and cold breath.
The Shepherd
minor
Also known as the Shepherd, A Shepherd
A caretaker of sheep who cries wolf as a joke.
The Snake
supporting
Also known as a Snake, the Snake, A Snake, Snake
A venomous reptile who often betrays those who help him.
The Sow
minor
Also known as the Sow, The Sow, the Wild Sow
A female pig who appears in fables about motherhood and danger.
The Spendthrift
minor
Also known as The Spendthrift, the Spendthrift
A wasteful man who sells his possessions and learns a hard lesson.
The Stork
minor
Also known as the Stork, The Stork, Stork
A long-beaked bird who outwits the Fox at dinner.
The Swallow
minor
Also known as a Swallow, the Swallow, The Swallow, the unfortunate Swallow
A migratory bird who returns too early and suffers the consequences.
The Swan
minor
Also known as the Swan, The Swan, Swan
A graceful bird who sings beautifully before death.
The Thief
minor
Also known as The Thief, the Thief, Thief
A criminal who appears in fables about justice and punishment.
The Weasel
minor
Also known as The Weasel, the Weasel, Weasel
A sly predator who tries to catch mice and birds.
The Bat
minor
Also known as A Bat, the Bat, The Bat, Bat
A creature who claims to be both bird and mammal to escape danger.
The Bear
minor
Also known as The Bear, the Bear, A Bear, Bear
A large predator who appears in fables about friendship and danger.
The Beetle
minor
Also known as the Beetle, a Beetle, The Beetle, Beetle
A small insect who seeks revenge against the Eagle.
The Bee
minor
Also known as The Bee, the Bee, A Queen Bee
A hardworking insect who appeals to Jupiter for a sting.
The Birds
minor
Also known as the Birds, The Birds, Birds
A collective group of feathered creatures who appear in several fables.
The Blind Man
minor
Also known as The Blind Man, the Blind Man, The Man
A sightless man who raises a wolf cub and learns a hard lesson.
The Boy
minor
Also known as a Boy, the Boy, A Boy, The Boy Bathing
A young human who appears in fables about honesty and danger.
The Camel
minor
Also known as the Camel, The Camel, Camel
A large desert animal who appears in fables about adaptation.
The Crab
minor
Also known as The Crab, the Crab, Crab
A sideways-walking creature who learns about walking straight.
Demades
minor
Also known as Demades
An Athenian orator who tells a fable to silence the assembly.
The Elephant
minor
Also known as the Elephant, The Elephant, Elephant
A large and wise animal who is chosen as king by the beasts.
The Fir Tree
minor
Also known as The Fir Tree, the Fir Tree, Fir Tree
A proud tree who boasts about his height and is cut down.
The Fisherman
minor
Also known as The Fisherman, the Fisherman, A Fisherman
A man who catches fish and learns lessons about patience and greed.
The Heifer
minor
Also known as The Heifer, the Heifer, A Heifer
A young cow who mocks the Ox for his hard work.
The Ills
minor
Also known as the Ills, Ills
Personified misfortunes that plague mankind.
Juno
minor
Also known as Juno
The queen of the gods who appears in fables about the Peacock.
Minerva
minor
Also known as Minerva
The goddess of wisdom who advises Hercules.
The Nightingale
minor
Also known as The Nightingale, the Nightingale, Nightingale
A sweet-singing bird who is caught by the Hawk.
The Parrot
minor
Also known as The Parrot, the Parrot, Parrot
A talking bird who appears in fables about imitation and wisdom.
The Partridge
minor
Also known as The Partridge, the Partridge, Partridge
A game bird who is caught by the Fowler.
Plutus
minor
Also known as Plutus
The god of wealth who appears in a fable with Hercules.
The Pomegranate
minor
Also known as The Pomegranate, the Pomegranate, A Pomegranate
A fruit tree that argues with the Bramble about usefulness.
Prometheus
minor
Also known as Prometheus
The Titan who created mankind and gave them fire.
The Raven
minor
Also known as the Raven, The Raven, Raven
A black bird who appears in fables about omens and deception.
The Rose
minor
Also known as the Rose, The Rose, Rose
A beautiful flower who argues with the Amaranth about permanence.
The Serpent
minor
Also known as the Serpent, The Serpent, Serpent
A snake who fights with the Eagle in a fable about rescue.
The Sprat
minor
Also known as the Sprat, a Sprat, A Sprat
A small fish who mediates between the Dolphins and Whales.
Venus
minor
Also known as Venus
The goddess of love who appears in fables about beauty.
The Wasp
minor
Also known as the Wasp, The Wasp, Wasp
A stinging insect who appears in fables about justice.
