Aesop was an ancient Greek storyteller. He lived 2500 years ago, around 550 BCE. 

Some say he was a slave who so delighted his master with his stories that Aesop was given his freedom. The Greeks were like that. They rewarded talent. That old legend could be true. 

There are no records to prove that Aesop ever wrote anything down. Fortunately, many years after his death, people started to write down the fables Aesop collected, so they could be more easily shared.    

Over the centuries, Aesop's fables have been rewritten and published and illustrated and translated into almost every language in the world.  

Here is one of our favorite stories by the ancient Greek storyteller, Aesop:  

Once upon a time, a long time ago, a fox fell down a well. He was stuck there for a quite a while. Finally, a goat wandered by.

"What are you doing?" asked the goat curiously.

"Stay away," snarled the fox. "This is my water."

"That's not fair," snapped the goat. "Why should you get all the water?"  Before the fox could say another word, the goat jumped in the well.

Quick as a flash, the fox leaped on the goat's back and out of the well. He ran happily off, leaving the goat stuck in the well. 

THE MORAL OF THIS STORY: 
Do not always believe what you hear
 from someone who is in trouble.

 

Here are more Aesop's fables

The Fox and the Crow 

The Fox and Sick Lion 

Aesop's Fables 

Androcles & the Lion (audio book online,
 click on "download" to hear the story)

Aesop and His Fables 

Fun with Fables (Guilford Schools) 

The Hare and the Tortoise game 

Explore Ancient Greece ...

Games 

Video Clips 

Powerpoints 

Greek Myths 

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All Rights Reserved    Clip Art Credit: Phillip Martin Fable loosely retold by Lin Donn  Have a great year!