Aesop was a Greek storyteller and fable maker. We believe he lived in Ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. Many fable collections are called Aesop's Fables. We are not sure of the details of Aesop’s life. Some people say he was an ugly slave who, by his cleverness, got his freedom. Many tales credited to him were collected across the centuries and in many languages.

Many of Aesop’s stories have animals or objects as main characters. These characters speak, think, and behave like human beings. Each of his fables has a lesson, or moral, to teach to the listener.