Mercury and the Sculptor by Esopo
Esopo's "Mercury and the Sculptor" is a fable about the god Mercury visiting a sculptor who is working on a statue of himself. The sculptor is so focused on his work that he does not notice Mercury standing right in front of him until the god speaks to him. The moral of the story is that one should not be too absorbed in their own work and neglect the world around them, as they may miss important opportunities or encounters.
By Esopo · First published 1602 · Genre: Fable, Mythology, Classical Literature · 165 words
First 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, where there were a number of statues finished and ready for sale. Seeing a statue of Jupiter among the rest, he inquired the price of it. "A crown," said the Sculptor. "Is that all? " said he, laughing; "and" (pointing to one of Juno) "how much is that one? " "That," was the reply, "is half a crown. " "And how much might you be wanting for that one over there, now? " he continued, pointing to a statue of himself. "That one? " said the Sculptor; "Oh, I'll throw him in for nothing if you'll buy the other two. "
What this Textopian page supports
Mercury and the Sculptor is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1602 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Esopo
- Date: 1602 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Mythology, Classical Literature
- Length: 165 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mercury and the Sculptor by Esopo
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Travellers And The Plane Tree by Esopo
- The Tunny Fish And The Dolphin by Esopo
- The Moon And Her Mother by Esopo
- The Mule by Esopo
- The Ass And His Shadow by Esopo
- The Lion Jupiter And The Elephant by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — This short story is typically classified as a 'fable', since it comes from Esopo, who is known for authoring fables with morals or lessons. The overall plot structure is simple and teaches a lesson, which is characteristic of the Fable genre.
- Mythology — The story involves Mercury, a figure from Roman mythology, giving it elements of the Mythology genre.
- Classical Literature — As a work by Esopo, this story is part of classical literature. The themes and writing style reflect the literary tradition of Ancient Greece and Rome, hence it can be categorized under Classical Literature.
Tags
mythology · fable · morality · greek · deity · sculpture · art · transformation · wisdom · craftsmanship · communication · divine