Statue of Aesop

Timeline

Lifetime: 620 BCE - 564 BCE Passed: ≈ 2587 years ago

Title

Storyteller, Fabulist

Country/Nationality

Greece
Wikipedia

Aesop

Aesop (c. 620–564 BCE) was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales are characterized by animals and inanimate objects that speak, solve problems, and generally have human characteristics.

An ancient literary work called The Aesop Romance tells an episodic, probably highly fictional version of Aesop's life, including the traditional description of him as a strikingly ugly slave (δοῦλος) who by his cleverness acquires freedom and becomes an adviser to kings and city-states. Older spellings of his name have included Esop(e) and Isope. Depictions of Aesop in popular culture over the last 2500 years have included many works of art and his appearance as a character in numerous books, films, plays, and television programs.

Books by Aesop

Aesop's Fables Cover image

Aesop's Fables

Satire Fiction Fairy Tale
Fable Children's Literature Anthology

Aesop's Fables, or the Aesopica, is a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. Of diverse origins, the stories associated with his name have descended to modern...

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 1 Cover image

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 1

Fiction Fairy Tale
Animal Nature Myths

The classic Aesop’s Fables have been translated to every language for hundreds of years. The fables, told in the form of allegories, give us universal, worldly advice. The use of animals and ancient gods makes the lessons unbiased and impartial. Sho...

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 2 Cover image

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 2

Fiction Fairy Tale
Animal Nature Legend Myths

The classic Aesop’s Fables have been translated to every language for hundreds of years. The fables, told in the form of allegories, give us universal, worldly advice. The use of animals and ancient gods makes the lessons unbiased and impartial. Sho...

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 3 Cover image

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 3

Fiction Fairy Tale
Animal Nature Legend Myths

The classic Aesop’s Fables have been translated to every language for hundreds of years. The fables, told in the form of allegories, give us universal, worldly advice. The use of animals and ancient gods makes the lessons unbiased and impartial. Sho...

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 4 Cover image

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 4

Fiction Fairy Tale
Animal Nature Legend Myths

The classic Aesop’s Fables have been translated to every language for hundreds of years. The fables, told in the form of allegories, give us universal, worldly advice. The use of animals and ancient gods makes the lessons unbiased and impartial. Sho...

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol. 5 Cover image

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol. 5

Fiction Fairy Tale
Animal Nature Myths

The classic Aesop’s Fables have been translated to every language for hundreds of years. The fables, told in the form of allegories, give us universal, worldly advice. The use of animals and ancient gods makes the lessons unbiased and impartial. Sho...

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol  6 Cover image

Las Fábulas de Esopo, Vol 6

Fiction Fairy Tale
Animal Nature Legend Myths

The classic Aesop’s Fables have been translated to every language for hundreds of years. The fables, told in the form of allegories, give us universal, worldly advice. The use of animals and ancient gods makes the lessons unbiased and impartial. Sho...

Aesops Fables in Russian Cover image

Aesops Fables in Russian

Fairy Tale
Children Myths Legends Russia

A collection of the most famous from Aesop's fables in Russian language.