Greek fables, the parables of Jesus, and insights into unknown facets of the personality of the great reformer
Martin Luther: Letters and Aesop's Fables
Wittenberg (Germany) — 1516–1532

Martin Luther: Letters and Aesop's Fables
Wittenberg (Germany) — 1516–1532
This collection includes the classical allegory and letters written by Martin Luther (1483–1546) between 1516 and 1532
Luther saw similarities between the fables and the parables of Jesus Christ and translated them into German
Some indication of the reformer's sentiments is given in his personal testimonies, warnings, and admonishments
Martin Luther: Letters and Aesop's Fables
- Martin Luther: Briefe und Aesop-Fabeln
Short Description
Martin Luther’s collection of letters and Aesop’s Fables contains letters of the reformer that date from between 1516 and 1532. The personal letters of the reformer reveal some unknown facets of the famous monk. He read the Aesop’s Fables he had translated during his sermons at the beginning of the Reformation.
Martin Luther: Letters and Aesop's Fables
The fables of the ancient Greek poet Aesop are handed down today in numerous and widely-varying sources. The stories with a moral lesson have been frequently adapted in modern media as well. The connection between the metaphorical animal stories and the Reformation teachings of Martin Luther may not be immediately apparent for most. The reformer saw similarities between the fables by the Greek poet and the parables of Jesus Christ. Therefore, he wanted to make the stories accessible in the German language for his followers. A compilation emerged that contained a few translated Aesop’s fables along with letters of Luther’s to his friends and family.
The Many Facets of Martin Luther
The collection of letters contains in total 24 of Luther’s letters to his friends and allies, including writings to his beloved wife Katharina. The letters give some indication of sentiments of the reformer, they contain personal testimonies, warnings, and admonishments to the civil authorities. In astounding fashion, the work reveals unknown facets of the personality of the famous Augustinian monk.
Religious Application of Aesop’s Fables
As the ancient fables of Aesop were increasingly translated from Greek into other languages of the world, they were often reinterpreted for religious purposes. In the Middle Ages the fables were collected for use in church sermons. The highly educated and well-read Martin Luther translated a few chosen Aesop’s Fables himself and from these created a collection, which he read in his sermons at the beginning of the Reformation **. The very same translated fables are still to be found today in the reformer’s important compilation. **A few prominent personalities have owned the work, among them was the prior of the Augustinian monastery Michael Dresser, a confidant of Luther’s. In 1531 the book belonged to the Elector and Duke of Saxony, Johann Friedrich I. Four years later the work came into the possession of the count’s chancellor Kaspar Müller, with whom Luther maintained a correspondence.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Martin Luther: Briefe und Aesop-Fabeln
- Type
- Manuscript on paper
- Size / Format
- 24 letters / 34.0 × 24.5 cm
- Origin
- Wittenberg (Germany)
- Date
- 1516–1532
- Epochs
- Style
- Language
- Artist / School
- Author: Matin Luther
- Previous Owners
- Michael Dressel (1516)
John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony (1531)
Kaspar Müller (1535)
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Martin Luther: Letters and Aesop's Fables“
Martin Luther: Briefe und Aesop-Fabeln
- Publisher
- Belser Verlag – Zurich, 1983
- Binding
- Letters in linen case
- Commentary
-
1 volume (126 pages) by Manfred Schulze and Walter Simon
Language: German - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Matching Works
Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada
A gift for the Catholic Monarchs: a historiographical poem on the Reconquista by Pedro Marcuello
Experience MoreDante Alighieri - La Divina Commedia
From the circles of Hell to Paradise: 170 illuminated scenes of the classic of world literature by Dante Alighieri
Experience MoreMatching Background Articles
Literature
Much like today, medieval readers were looking for stories full of excitement and adventure that would take them out of...Experience moreRenaissance
What does the word “Renaissance” bring to mind for you? Art, science, and culture of course! It was a "rebirth" and...Experience more16th Century
When did the Middle Ages end and the Early Modern Period begin? Most agree it was sometime in the course of the 16th...Experience more
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Aboca Museum
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- De Agostini/UTET
- DIAMM
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Egeria, S.L.
- Extraordinary Editions
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Helikon
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- La Meta Editore
- Leo S. Olschki
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lumen Artis
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Manuscriptum
- Millennium Liber
- Nova Charta
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Popyläen Verlag
- Prestel Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Reichert Verlag
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Salerno Editrice
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- Styria Verlag
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- Trident Editore
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Yushodo