Phaedrus was one of the main transmitters of the beloved animal fables traditionally attributed to Aesop. Phaedrus rendered these Greek fables, ancient already by his own day, into Latin verse. Given the prominence of Aesop’s Fables even into the modern era, as well as the importance of Phaedrus in transmitting them, his impact on the literary canon is quite significant, and yet often underappreciated. Phaedrus (not to be confused with Socrates’ Athenian friend) was a first-century AD Roman poet. His pithy, entertaining, and surprisingly profound poems have long been a mainstay of Latin education. Since the fabulae are short and use relatively straightforward vocabulary and syntax, they are a common text to introduce authentic Latin literature to the intermediate student.
This course will cover a series of Phaedrus’ verse fables, giving students the opportunity to read authentic ancient Latin and discuss it in class in spoken Latin. All students will also receive access to a digital vocabulary learning platform custom-built for intermediate-level students reading Phaedrus.
Course details:
- Sessions last 1.5 hours
- 1 session per week
- Course lasts 14 weeks
- Term runs May 3, 2026 – Aug. 8, 2026
How ALI courses work:
- ALI courses are live, online classes run by ALI Latin professors. Learn Latin from anywhere.
- Classes run on a trimester basis.
- Fall: September – December
- Spring: January – April
- Summer: May – August
- We want to make sure you’re completely satisfied. If you don’t love your first Latin class, we guarantee a 100% refund. After that, in weeks 2 – 4, refunds will be made on a pro rata basis, based on however many class sessions you’ve attended. We cannot issue refunds after the fourth week of classes.
- Read more on our FAQ page and check out our academic calendar page to see a more detailed schedule
