aesop was and ancient greek writer of fables. according to the early historian herodotus, he was a slave who lived in Samos in the 6th century B.C. and eventaully was freed by his master. aesop's fables may actaully come from earlier greek storytellers. aesop may have only retold them skillfully and ensured their popularity. aesop's fables were first written down in 300 B.C., long after he had died. in the 1600s, a french writter called La Fontaine made excellent verse versions of them, which contibuted to their continuing popularity. the most famous of aesop's fables include "The fox and the grapes", "the tortoise and the hare", and "the ant and grasshopper". the lesson of the fables remain as true today as during the time of aesop.