Aesop’s fables are a collection of stories attributed to a Greek storyteller by the name of Aesop.

The man himself likely lived between 620 and 564 BCE and is traditionally thought of as a slave, whose stories led him to becoming an adviser to kings.

Like many old figures, such as King Arthur or Odysseus, the myth surrounding them is often far more important than whether or not the facts about them are strictly accurate.

Whether the person called Aesop actually told the fables or not, doesn’t really matter. It’s the stories themselves that matter.

What isn’t in doubt is how influential Aesop’s Fables have been over the millenia since they were told.

They come from an ancient oral tradition and likely weren’t written down until centuries after they were first told.

Aesop’s Fables usually involve familiar animals talking and behaving in human-like ways. They get into sticky situations or scenarios that are familiar to many of us.

The fables are short stories that have layers of meaning behind them. They all carry a message that can help people learn how to treat others or themselves better.

This message is what we call the “moral” of the story.

Because they have multiple meanings, it’s up to the people engaging with the fable to come up with their own interpretation of the story. To see where it fits with their understanding of the world.

Perhaps you are a parent or a teacher, helping young people navigate society better.

Perhaps you are trying to figure out this chaotic world for yourself.

Wherever you are in your life’s journey, reflecting on Aesop’s Fables can help you understand yourself and the world around you.

As there are many potential messages for each of the fables, we encourage you to submit your own morals at the end of each fable. As long as it is coherent and is a possible moral, we usually publish them.