ABSTRACT
In Greco-Roman stories animals exemplified justice, gratitude, and love. Those stories that represented justice or fair play preserved a sense of order within a world in which good seemed in danger of losing out to evil. Animals, especially elephants, protected the innocent and avenged graft, adultery, and murder by their caretakers. Stories of animals interacting with people are fairly rare in Judaism. Biblical stories and intertestamental literature view them as instruments of divine aid or justice. The New Testament contains little about animals. The birds of the air and the foxes with their dens all act as place markers for recommended or discommended conduct. The stories of the martyrs contain many incidents of animals interacting with human beings. The animals call on the monks for help. A hyena prevailed on the monk Macarius to heal one of her cubs which had been born blind. She recognized his spiritual power and realized it could benefit her brood.
