* Oral Tradition: Fables likely existed long before written records. They were passed down through generations orally, making it hard to trace their origins.
* Ancient Examples: We have evidence of fables from ancient civilizations like:
* Ancient Egypt: The "Tale of the Two Brothers" (around 1300 BCE) has elements of a fable.
* Ancient India: The "Panchatantra" (around 3rd century BCE) is a collection of animal fables.
* Ancient Greece: Aesop's fables (around 6th century BCE) are among the most famous.
Therefore, it's more accurate to say that fables have existed for thousands of years, with written records dating back to at least the 1st millennium BCE.