An ancient tale is a story that has been passed down through generations and is often associated with mythology and folklore. The term can refer to the ILIAD, an epic poem written by Homer in the 8th century BC, or a MYTH, which is a traditional story that explains the beliefs of a particular culture. Fables are short stories that typically feature animals as characters and have a moral lesson at the end. AESOP's Fables are a collection of such stories written by AESOP, a Greek storyteller who lived in the 6th century BC.