Contents:


Chapter 1: Aesop: From Humble Beginnings

According to Planudes and Camerarius, Aesop was from Ammorius, a town in Greater Phrygia. Some accounts place his origins in Thrace, while others claim Samos as his birthplace. He was of humble origins and severely deformed, with a flat nose, hunched back, thick lips, misshapen head, crooked body, large belly, and bowed legs. His complexion was so dark that his name "Aesop" was thought to be derived from "Ethiopian."

In addition to his physical deformities, Aesop had a significant speech impediment, making it difficult for people to understand him. This was considered his greatest hardship, as his sharp mind might have compensated for his unusual appearance. Some stories claim he was miraculously cured of his speech problem after helping some lost and hungry priests. However, Camerarius, whose account I primarily follow, dismisses this miracle and focuses on Aesop's documented life in Samos, tracing the remarkable events up to his tragic death at Delphos. Whether he truly had a speech impediment or how he was cured remains uncertain, as do other details of varying reliability in his history. Aesop, believed to have been a slave bought and sold multiple times, is said to have begun his adventures in the service of his third master.

Ancient sources generally agree that Aesop lived during the reign of Croesus in Lydia and that his master was Xanthus, a Samian, though Herodotus suggests another Samian named Jadmon.

Chapter 2: A Lesson on the Road to Ephesus

Aesop was sent to Ephesus along with other slaves to be sold. Their master, a gruff Lydian merchant, had a cartload of goods to transport – sacks of grain, bundles of tools, and a large basket of bread. Aesop, along with the other slaves, was tasked with carrying these burdens. They sneered at his thin frame and hunched back, assuming he was the weakest among them. "Fine, weakling," one of them scoffed, gesturing dismissively at the pile of goods, "choose whatever you can manage."

Observing his companions' eagerness for food, Aesop chose the basket of bread, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "A fool's choice!" they jeered. "That's twice as heavy as anything else!"

As they continued their journey through the dusty roads and fields, they stopped for lunch, eating the bread from Aesop's basket. This made his load significantly lighter for the afternoon. By the next meal, his basket was empty, and he had nothing left to carry. Humbled by their own foolishness, the slaves learned a valuable lesson: appearances can be deceiving, and wisdom is often found where it's least expected.

Chapter 3: Xanthus Discovers Aesop's Wisdom

Upon arriving in Ephesus, the merchant quickly sold most of his slaves, retaining only a musician, an orator, and Aesop. He dressed the musician and the orator in attire befitting their professions and took them to Samos, considering it the best place for a sale. In the open market, Aesop stood between them, appearing foolish to some. Xanthus, an eminent philosopher, and his disciples were among the potential buyers. Xanthus was pleased with the two youths and asked about their skills. One claimed to be able to do anything, while the other boasted of being able to do everything, prompting Aesop's laughter.

The philosopher's pupils, curious about Aesop's amusement, insisted that Xanthus question him as well. Xanthus asked Aesop what he could do. "Nothing at all," Aesop replied, explaining that his companions claimed to do everything, leaving nothing for him. This impressed Xanthus, who appreciated Aesop's wit. He decided to buy Aesop, despite his unusual appearance. Aesop assured Xanthus of his honesty, saying he would be good whether bought or not.

As Xanthus negotiated with the merchant, the latter disparaged Aesop, comparing him to a dunghill. Recognizing the wisdom hidden beneath Aesop's exterior, Xanthus paid the merchant's price and took him away.

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