Aesop Biography and Quotes
Born: 620 BCE
Commemoration: 564 BCE
Nationality: Greek
56
Years Old
Famously Known For
Aesop is known for his collection of fables known as Aesop Fables. Through his wisdom and cleverness, he rose from the rank of a slave to that of an advisor to Kings and state leaders.
Early Life
Several sources of information state that Aesop was born around 620 BCE around the Black Sea. He served as a slave in Samos, and his first two masters were Xanthus and Ladmon. He was late freed. He earned his freedom after acting as an advocate on behalf of a wealthy Samian.
Personal Life
Aesop lived around 620 to 560 BC. Aesop is believed to have been a slave in his early days. Aesop earned his freedom through acts of wisdom and storytelling. He had several physical deformities on his body, and some ancient texts claim that he was healed by a deity.
Through his wit, he managed to escape from punishments from his master through standing up to his accusers and telling a story that exhibited the irony of his impending punishment.
Career
There are more than six hundred fables that are accredited to Aesop. These are short stories that aim at teaching moral lessons to the listeners who mainly are children. In these fables, the characters are animals who have human-like traits.
Literary Works
- Birds of a feather flock together
- Once bitten twice shy
- Necessity is the mother of invention
- Let well alone
- Every man for himself
- Choose the lesser of two evils
- Beauty is only skin deep
- You cannot escape your fate
- Think before you act
- Slow but steady win
Death
Aesop met his death in the city of Delphi around 564 BCE. He went there on a state mission of representing King Croesus of Lydia. He insulted the Dephians and was sentenced on false accusations of temple theft. He was thrown down a cliff.
