Miniatures of the Fables of Bidpai and of the Life of Aesop in the Pierpont Morgan Library
Myrtilla Avery
Among the treasures in manuscript section of The Pierpont Morgan Library is a collection ancient folk-tales (MS 397) written Greek script which has been placed and dated as South Italian late tenth century.1 following texts are found on its one hundred twelve folios: fragment Fables Bidpai, or Kalilah Dimnah, fols. 1r–7v;Physiologus,2 8r–21v; Life Aesop, 22r–67v; two twenty-six fables 67v–108r; thirty-one Babrius,3 108r–112v; seven “witty sayings” () from Philogelos Hierocles Philagrios,4 fol. 112v. Of these texts, only Bidpai Aesop illustrated.
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