The Crow and Mercury
Story Summary
In the fable "The Crow and Mercury," a crow, ensnared and desperate, prays to Apollo for rescue, promising to offer frankincense at his shrine, but forgets his vow once freed. Caught again, he makes a similar promise to Mercury, who scolds him for betraying Apollo and questioning his loyalty. This short story with moral illustrates the consequences of failing to honor one's commitments, a theme found in many well-known moral stories.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The moral of the story is that one should honor their commitments and loyalty, as betraying trust can lead to a loss of credibility and support.
Historical Context
This fable, attributed to Aesop, reflects themes of gratitude and fidelity, common in ancient Greek storytelling. Aesop’s fables often featured animals with human traits, teaching moral lessons relevant to the society of his time, where the gods were believed to actively influence human affairs. The story illustrates the importance of keeping promises and the consequences of ingratitude, resonating through various retellings in Western literature and moral teachings.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable highlights the importance of integrity and keeping one's promises, especially in times of distress. In modern life, a person may seek help from a mentor or friend during a tough period, vowing to support them in return, only to neglect that promise once their situation improves; this reflects a lack of accountability that can damage relationships and reputations.
You May Also Like
The Lion and the Thorn
In this engaging moral tale, a lion, grateful for a shepherd's help in removing a thorn from his foot, spares him after a meal. However, when the shepherd is falsely accused and sentenced to be fed to the lions, one lion recognizes him and claims him as his own, leading to the shepherd's demise at the hands of the very creature he once aided. This timeless moral story serves as a cautionary reminder of how past kindness can be repaid in unexpected ways.
The Trees Under the Protection of the Gods
In "The Trees Under the Protection of the Gods," various deities select trees for their protection, favoring those that do not bear fruit to avoid the appearance of greed. Minerva advocates for the fruitful olive, leading Jupiter to impart a thought-provoking moral: true glory lies in usefulness, not superficial honor. This short and sweet moral story highlights the importance of impact over appearance, making it a compelling lesson on value and purpose.
The Crow and the Serpent
In "The Crow and the Serpent," a timeless moral story, a hungry crow mistakenly believes he has found a fortunate meal in a sleeping serpent. However, the serpent's fatal bite leads to the crow's demise, teaching a valuable lesson about the dangers of greed and misjudgment. This meaningful tale serves as a reminder that what appears to be a lucky opportunity can sometimes be a source of destruction in real-life stories with moral significance.
Other names for this story
"Crow's Betrayal, The Snared Promise, Apollo's Wrath, Mercury's Judgment, A Crow's Oath, The Unfaithful Crow, Frankincense and Deceit, The Crow's Redemption"
Did You Know?
This story highlights the theme of faithfulness and the consequences of breaking promises, illustrating how the crow's lack of loyalty leads to distrust from both Apollo and Mercury, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's word.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.
Explore More Stories
Story Details
- Age Group
- adultkidschildrenstory for class 2story for class 3story for class 4story for class 5story for class 6story for class 7story for class 8
- Theme
- betrayalaccountabilitythe consequences of promises
- Characters
- CrowApolloMercury
- Setting
- shrinesnareApollo's domainMercury's domain