Aesop is a semi-legendary figure of the 6th century BCE. Ancient sources, including Herodotus, describe him as a slave, often from Samos, Thrace, or Phrygia, who gained freedom and served King Croesus of Lydia. His death is traditionally linked to Delphi, where he was executed after offending the citizens. The details of his life are largely anecdotal, derived from later sources like the Roman-era fictionalized biography, the Life of Aesop.

No writings by Aesop survive. The fables attributed to him—short, moral tales often featuring animals—were transmitted orally before being compiled in prose. The most influential early collection was made by Demetrius of Phalerum, now lost. The standard corpus derives from later prose and verse collections, notably by Babrius and Phaedrus.

Aesop is foundational to the Western fable tradition. The Aesopic fable became a distinct genre used by orators and philosophers like Socrates to illustrate ethical points. The stories, central to rhetorical education, have had an enduring impact on literature and popular culture.