Aesop

 NAME: Aesop (also spelled Esop or Isope, Greek: Αἴσωπος, Aísōpos)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Aesop is famous for being a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. These fables are characterized by anthropomorphic animal characters and moral lessons.

BIRTH: Aesop was born around 620 BCE in the Greek colony of Mesembria, according to the earliest Greek sources. However, some later sources say that he was born in Phrygia, Thrace, Ethiopia, or Sardis.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Little is known about Aesop's family background. He was said to have been a slave of Iadmon, a wealthy Samian. Some sources say that he was deformed and that his name came from the Greek word Aethiops, meaning Ethiopia.

CHILDHOOD: Nothing is known about Aesop's childhood.

EDUCATION: Aesop's education is also unknown. He may have learned storytelling from his fellow slaves or from traveling entertainers.

CAREER RECORD: Aesop's career as a storyteller began when he gained his freedom from his master Iadmon. He then traveled to many places, such as Babylon, Corinth, Athens, and Delphi, where he told his fables to kings, philosophers, and ordinary people. He also served as an adviser to King Croesus of Lydia and as a diplomat for Samos.

APPEARANCE: Aesop was described by ancient sources as strikingly ugly, with a flat nose, hunched back, and long lips. He was also short and bald. Below is a plaster cast of a Hellenistic statue thought to depict Aesop The original is in the Art Collection of the Villa Albani, Rome.

By user:shakko - Own work, Wikipedia Commons

FASHION: Aesop's fashion sense is not recorded, but he probably wore simple clothes suitable for a slave or a traveler.

CHARACTER: Aesop was known for his wit, intelligence, and cunning. He used his fables to expose the follies and vices of human society. He was also courageous, loyal, and generous to his friends.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Aesop had a keen sense of humour, which he used to make his fables more appealing and memorable. He often employed irony, sarcasm, and paradox to make his points.

RELATIONSHIPS: Aesop had many friends and admirers among the wise men of Greece, such as Solon, Periander, and the Seven Sages. He also had enemies who envied or hated him for his fame or his criticism.

MONEY AND FAME: Aesop did not seek money or fame for himself. He lived modestly and gave away most of his earnings to the poor or to his friends. He became famous for his fables, which were widely circulated and translated into many languages.

FOOD AND DRINK: Aesop's preferences for food and drink are not known. He probably ate whatever was available or offered to him during his travels.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Aesop may have enjoyed music and arts, since he was familiar with the myths and legends of Greece and other cultures. He also used metaphors and imagery in his fables.

LITERATURE: Aesop was influenced by the oral tradition of storytelling that existed in ancient times. He also drew inspiration from the works of Homer, Hesiod, and other poets.

Johann Michael Wittmer, Aesop Tells His Fables, 1879.

NATURE: Aesop loved nature and used it as a source of wisdom and beauty in his fables. He often depicted animals as having human traits and emotions, such as cunning, greed, pride, or kindness.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Aesop's hobbies and sports are not recorded, but he may have enjoyed playing games or riddles with his friends or audiences.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Aesop did not show much interest in science and maths, but he did use logic and common sense in his fables. He also demonstrated knowledge of natural phenomena and human anatomy.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Aesop was not a philosopher or a theologian in the strict sense, but he did express some philosophical and theological views in his fables. He believed in the existence of gods and fate, but he also stressed the importance of human free will and responsibility. He advocated justice, moderation, honesty, prudence, and compassion as virtues.

SCANDAL: Aesop was involved in several scandals during his life. He was accused of stealing a golden bowl from the temple of Delphi by the priests who wanted to get rid of him. He was also blamed for causing a plague in Delphi by insulting the citizens with his fables.

MILITARY RECORD: Aesop did not have a military record, but he did participate in some political and diplomatic missions. He helped Samos to negotiate a peace treaty with Croesus and to resist the Persian invasion.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Aesop's health and physical fitness were poor, due to his deformity and his hard life. He suffered from various ailments and injuries during his travels.

HOMES: Aesop did not have a permanent home, but he stayed in different places depending on his circumstances. He lived in Samos as a slave, in Babylon as a guest of King Lycurgus, in Corinth as a friend of Periander, and in Delphi as a prisoner.

TRAVEL: Aesop traveled extensively throughout the ancient world, visiting places such as Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece, and Italy. He encountered different cultures, customs, and people along the way.

DEATH: Aesop died around 564 BCE in Delphi, where he was executed by being thrown from a cliff. His death was considered unjust and provoked divine wrath upon the Delphians.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Aesop has appeared in many media forms over the centuries, such as books, films, plays, and television programs. Some of the most famous adaptations of his fables are those by Phaedrus, La Fontaine, and Disney.

William Caxton printed the first English translation of Aesop's Fables. Caxton translated the work himself, likely from a French version, and printed it on March 26, 1484. Because of the success of his translations, he is credited with helping to promote the Chancery English that he used to the status of standard dialect throughout England.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Aesop's greatest achievement was creating a collection of fables that have influenced Western literature and culture for more than 2,500 years. His fables are still read and enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds today.

Note: Much of Aesop's life remains shrouded in legend and myth. Historians debate his actual existence, but his fables' impact transcends the individual author, solidifying his place as a cultural icon