Aesop ( EE-sop or AY-sop; Greek: Αἴσωπος, Aísōpos; c. 620–564 BCE) (formerly rendered as Æsop) 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 associated with him are characterized by anthropomorphic animal characters. Scattered details of Aesop's life can be found in ancient sources, including Aristotle, Herodotus, and Plutarch. An ancient literary work called The Aesop Romance tells an episodic, probably highly fictional version of his 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 2,500 years have included many works of art and his appearance as a character in numerous books, films, plays, and television programs.
Aesop
Author details
- Aliases:
-
Aisopeios, עזאפ, Ezopit, and 71 others
伊娑菩, Äsop, იეზებოსი, Ésope Phrygien, אזוף, Esopet, איזופוס, Aesophus, 伊蘇普, ესოპე, Αiσωπος, Yisuo, Ésope, Aesuvpe, Ezop, Aisôpos, Aesopus Phrygius, AEsopus, Aisopus, Aisopos, Esopus Phrygius, Αἲσωπος, Aisūbūs, Phryx Aesopus, Isoho, Yishi, Yisuopu, Aisoposu, Эзоп, 伊曽保, イソップ, Īcāp, アイソポス, エソポ, Isop, Aisōpos, Ezovbos, Esop, Ezopos, Aisopōs, Esopus, Esope de Phrygie, Ysopet, Isoppu, Aysūb, Yzopet, Aesop, Αἴσωπος, 伊索, Ysopo, Ésop, Asop, איסופוס, Æsop, Isopo, Esopo, Aisōpus, Æsopus, Aí̄sōpos, Aesopus, Ésope de Phrygie, Esope, Aesop, إيسوب, 意拾, Ezop z Frygii, Essópov, Aisópos, Aisop, אזופוס, Isopp - Born:
- March 19, 620
- Died:
- March 19, 564
External links
Books by Aesop
Aesops Illustrated Fables by Aesop Leather Bound
by Aesop, Walter Crane, Ernest Henry Griset, and 1 other
