Aesop, alongside Homer and Plato, is a figure from the classical tradition who endures as a household name. Known today for his association with the fable genre, a rich tradition about him was widespread in antiquity. Aesop, the historical figure, would have lived during the Archaic Period of Greece, in the sixth century BCE. Although his biography accrued immense legendary embellishment over the centuries, our limited evidence provides a modicum of support for a historical figure standing behind it.
The Earliest Aesop Traditions
The Earliest Aesop TraditionsOur earliest information about Aesop appears in the fifth century BCE through art, and historical and poetic writings. In the literary record, Aesop appears in the first Greek historical narrative. In Herodotus’ Histories (ca. 430
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Citation: Strong, Justin David. "Aesop". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 October 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=41, accessed 02 December 2024.]