Everyone is familiar with Aesop's Fables. They are short stories usually about animal characters designed to make a point about human behaviour. Aesop has been credited with inventing the fable. Indeed, the name Aesop has become synonymous with fables. However, animal fables existed long before Aesop. There are fables recorded in ancient artefacts of Babylon, Harappa (ancient Indian civilisation), China and Persia. Fables are the second oldest form of story known. The first is the myth: how … [Read more...]

When Rome was still a new city, the Etruscans attacked and forced them into the fortress on the Capitoline Hill. Apparently, it was almost impossible for an attacking force to get up the side of the hill, but the Etruscans managed it...at night. It was quite likely the most critical night in Roman History. Only problem for the Romans was that their dogs were all asleep (as were the "guards"). So, naturally, it was left to the geese (!) to see the intruders as they came over the wall. The … [Read more...]