Epic Poetry

The term ‘epic’, when applied to ancient Greek literature, refers to a set of texts that may be loosely defined as narrative poetry about the deeds of gods and heroes. To a very large extent, this is a reflection of Homer's authority as the most famous epic poet. This article argues that recent comparisons between early Greek epic and modern oral traditions, as well as the discovery and investigation of ancient Hittite and Near Eastern texts, place Greek epic in a much wider literary and historical context.

Ancient Greek · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Context (archaeology) · EPIC · Hittite language · Literature · Narrative · Poetry · Ancient Near East History · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History