SOURCE: "Phaedrus and Folklore: an Old Problem Restated," in Classical Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 2, 1979, pp. 432-35.

In the essay that follows, Stinton argues that the similarities between Phaedrus's poetry and more modern fables are likely to have resulted from the diffusion of classical culture into Europe.

I. Mythos

There was once a man in a certain village in the mountains, who made his living by making up stories, which he used to tell to the people of his village to while away their evenings.¹ One day he went on a journey to a strange village far away in the plains, and there he saw a group of men sitting round another story-teller. Being curious to learn whether his rival was as good a story-teller as he was, he joined the group and listened. He was astonished to find that the story being told was one he had made up...