9. AESOP III - How to Lose a Donkey in 10 Ways

*** SUPPORT SEASON 2 OF PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠ ***

What is the moral of "The Tortoise and The Hare"? What is the warning in "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"? What is "The Fox and The Grapes" about? You're probably wrong about all three.

In the last instalment of the Aesop Trilogy, Alex delves into the fables themselves and finds the many ways in which they have been twisted and why.

Welcome to Podyssey with Alex Andreou. Each week we will take one myth, one concept, person, place, or theme from Ancient Greece, take it apart, figure out its inner workings, trace its tentacles, juice it for its wisdom, refresh, clean and put it back together - all shiny and new! 

"Our Aesop-muscle has atrophied. We have forgotten how to craft and tell our stories - and in the process forgotten how to listen to the stories of others. Humanity without stories is humanity with no identity."

"How the story made us feel is what we store and recall - not the hard logic, nor the facts and figures. And while it is ludicrous to say 'people have had enough of experts', it’s perfectly fair to say that they have had enough of how their teaching style makes them feel."

*** SUPPORT SEASON 2 OF PODYSSEY ON ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/PODYSSEY⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***

Written and presented by Alex Andreou

Expert contributions by Alexandra Angeletaki-Røe, Debbie Challis, Linda Marric, and Dr Ruth Smith

Exec. Producers Naomi Smith & Kenny Campbell

Music by Marianna Sangita

Artwork by Simona Kanellou

For Cooler Heads, in collaboration with Sandstone Global

NOTES

MUSIC

Podyssey Theme: “To Margoudi ki o Alexandris”, Marianna Sangita, 2018 (with permission)

Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Concerto No. 2 for Violin and Orchestra ("The Prophets”), Jascha Heifetz 1956

Dorothy Collins: “To Make A Long Story Short”, 1953

Hans Werner Henze: Moralitäten 1. Teil, conducted by the composer, 1968

Tom Lehrer: “Smut”, public domain, 1965

Sandra Church: Gypsy “Little Lamb”, 1959

Giorgos Gounaris: “To Pazari” (The Market), 1939

Jean-Philippe Rameau: “Platée”, Michel Sénéchal, 1956

Gioachino Rossini: “Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti”, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf & Victoria de los Angeles, Royal Festival Hall, 1967

Modest Mussorgsky: “The Song of The Flea”, Feodor Chaliapin, 1936

Gerónimo Giménez: La Tempranica “La Tarantula”, Victoria de los Angeles, BBC 1968

Bizet: “La Coccinelle”, Cecilia Bartoli, (fair usage for review) 1996

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Die Zauberflöte “Pa-pa-pa-gena”, Walter Berry & Emmy Loose, 1955

Emma Papikyan: “Dzidzernak” (Swallow), Armenia Radio Archives, 1993

Saint-Saens: Parysatis "Le Rossignol Et La Rose" , Mado Robin, RTF archive 1954

Manos Hadjidakis: “Magiki Poli” (Magical City), Zoe Maggou, 1954

Leoš Janáček: Cunning Little Vixen - Finale, Prague National Theatre, 1958

Jerome Kern: Show Boat “Make Believe”, Marion Marlowe & Frank Parker, 1953

ART

Frans Snyders: "The Cock and the Jewel", oil on canvas 1620 - Auckland Art Gallery

Agnes Miller Parker: “The Cock and the Jewel”, wood engraving c1931 - private collection

“The Cock and the Jewel”, Chelsea Porcelain, c1770 - Fitzwilliam Museum

“The Cock and the Jewel”, pendant in gold and pearl with rubies, Dutch 16C - private collection

“The Miller, His Son, And Their Ass”, John Tenniel illustrations, 1882 

FILM

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” 2009

“Bambi” 1942

“Spirited Away” 2001

“Howl’s Moving Castle” 2004

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices