Babrius
Babrius is a somewhat obscure figure in literary history, believed to have been a Roman author named Valerius who likely resided in Syria. His works, which are primarily associated with fables attributed to Aesop, are dated variably from the third century BCE to the third century CE, though stylistic analysis suggests he probably wrote in the third century CE. The ambiguity surrounding his life and the precise timing of his writings is partly due to references to historical figures, such as Alexander Severus, which complicate dating efforts. Babrius is known for composing 123 fables in choliambic verse, a rhythmic structure that contributes to the unique quality of his storytelling.
The first significant recognition of Babrius came from scholar Richard Bentley, who identified his contributions through a detailed analysis of Aesop's prose. Subsequent discoveries, including a notable manuscript found in 1842 at Mount Athos, brought more attention to his fables, although the authenticity of later finds has been questioned. Today, Babrius's work continues to be of interest for its creative adaptations of traditional fables, reflecting the cultural and literary exchanges of his time.
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Subject Terms
Babrius
Author
- Born: c. 150
- Died: c. 200
Biography
Little is known about the life of Babrius. He was thought to be a Roman, whose given name was Valerius. He probably lived in Syria at the time that he was writing. Some confusion exists as to when exactly Babrius composed his verse. The dates assigned to Babrius vary from the third century b.c.e. to the third century c.e. The confusion stems from an address which refers to King Alexander’s son. It is presumed that the Alexander in this reference is Alexander Severus, who lived in the third century c.e. Further, the son of Alexander reference has been linked to the name Branchus, mentioned in the fables. It has been suggested that Babrius was Branchus’s tutor, but in all likelihood, the name Branchus may be fictitious. The style and language of Babrius’s writing also suggest that he lived in the third century c.e.
Richard Bentley was the first person to recognize the work of Babrius in his dissertation on the fables of Aesop. Bentley’s careful examination of the prose versions of Aesop’s fables allowed him to discover elements of versification which he assigned to Babrius. Other scholars expanded Bentley’s work by reconstructing the metrical original of the prose fables. In 1842, a manuscript of Babrius was discovered in the convent of St. Laura on Mount Athos. This manuscript found its way into the collections at the British Museum. The manuscript contained 123 of the original 160 or so fables which were alphabetically arranged.
The fables are written in choliambic, or imperfect iambic, verse. In 1857, another manuscript was supposedly uncovered in the convent at Mount Athos. This manuscript contained ninety-four verses and a preface. Because the monks refused to relinquish the manuscript, a copy was made and sold to the British Museum. However, the manuscript was later declared a forgery. An additional six fables were later discovered in the Vatican archives.