An enslaved African in Greece, he was and is known for his fables such as “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” and “The Ant and the Grasshopper.” There are at least 656 short stories and fables Aesop told that have been recorded and are still being told to this very day. Many of his wise creations are called nursery rhymes.
The storyteller is described as having had an oversized head, short in stature, and he wore a scraggly beard and did not appear to groom often.
Accounts say that Aesop was released from bondage as a reward for his wit and ability to learn. As a free man, he sat at the roundtable of some of Greece’s renowned philosophers and was admired by most. He traveled throughout Greece, teaching and taking part in the affairs of the republics of the country.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Aesop visited the Delphians with a gift of gold to distribute among the citizens. Disgusted with the people’s greed, Aesop refused to divide the money. Delphi was offended and executed him as a public criminal in 560 B.C.
