Fables of Aesop (Aesop’s fables) have reached countless generations. THE LIFE and History of Aesop is involved, like that of Homer, the most famous of Greek poets, in much obscurity. Some may say that Aesop is infamous for the life he led over 2000 years ago and mostly for the hundreds of fables that have been attributed to his name since.
The legend tells it that Aesop lived during the sixth century BC, scholars have narrowed down his birthplace to a few different places but no one knows for sure. He was born a slave, and in his lifetime two different masters owned him before being granted his freedom. The slave masters were named, Xanthus and Iadmon, the latter gave him his freedom as a reward for his wit and intelligence. As a freed man he supposedly became involved in public affairs and traveled a lot—telling his fables along the way. King Croesus of Lydia was so impressed with Aesop that he offered him residency and a job at his court.
The popularity of Aesop is also shown by the fact that Plato records that Socrates decided to versify some of his fables while he was in jail awaiting execution.
Submitted by:
-Niranjana Krishna R
Source: www.english-for-students.com