Product Description

Greek epics of the archaic period include poems that narrate a particular heroic episode or series of episodes and poems that recount the long-term history of families or peoples. They are an important source of mythological record. This volume contains examples of this poetry that have come down to us. The heroic epic is represented by poems about Heracles and Theseus, and by two great epic cycles: the Theban Cycle, which tells of the failed assault on Thebes by the Seven and the subsequent successful assault by their sons; and the Trojan Cycle, which includes "Cypria", "Little Iliad" and "The Sack of Ilion". Among the gealogical epics are poems in which Eumelus creates a pre-history for Corinth and Asius creates one for Samos. Martin West provides helpful notes, and his introduction places the epics in historical context.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #497165 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

About the Author
MARTIN L. WEST is Senior Research Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford.

Customer Reviews

Fragments from the Trojan Cycle and other epic poems
We can only imagine how many countless millions of students have read the "Iliad" or some version of Homer's epic poem and were surprised to find that the story of the Trojan Horse is not part of the tale. While the two heroic epics ascribed to Homer are the only extant examples of the genre there are other such works, telling not only about other parts of the Trojan War but also about Heracles, Theseus, and the city of Thebes. In "Greek Epic Fragments: From the Seventh to Fifth Centuries B.C." edited and translated by Martin L. West we these extant fragments, placed in historical context.

In his introduction West characterizes these poems as "redactions of traditional material" from the archaic period that include poems that narrate a particular heroic episode or series of episodes along with poems that recount the histories of families or people. These fragments constitute an important part of the mythological record, especially with regards to those that tell the story of the rest of the Trojan War. Those were what I was interested in tracking down, but you may well have other interests, so here is a list of what you will specifically find inside in this collection:

The Theban Cycle is represented by "Oedipodea"; "Thebaid" tells of the Seven Against Thebes; "Epigoni" is about the sons of the Seven Against Thebes; and "Alcemonis." The Trojan Cycle features: Stanius' "Cyrpia," where Zeus plans with Themis to bring about the Trojan War, including the Judgment of Paris (Alexandrus); "Aethiopis" by Arctinus of Miletus, follows up on the "Iliad" with the death of Achilles and the fight over his armor; "The Little Iliad" by Lesches of Mitylene, has the death of Ajax, Odysseus stealing the Palladium out of Troy, and the Acheans leaving behind the Trojan Horse; and "The Sack of Iliom," also by Arctinus of Miletus, tells of how the Trojans brought the horse into their city and were destroyed. It also includes "The Returns" by Agias of Troezen; Eugammon of Cyrene's "Telegony," which picks up on the end of "The Odyssey"; and "Thesprotis."

A section devoted to Poems on Heracles and Theseus has "The Capture of Oichalia" by Creophylus, "Heraclea" by Pisander, "Heraclea" by Panyassis, and "Theseis." Under Genealogical And Antiquarian Epics there are works by Eumelus ("Titanomachia," "Corinthiaca," "Europia"), Cinaethon, Asius, Hegesinous, and Chersias, along with fragments from "Danais," "Minyas," "Carmen Naupactium," and "Phoronis." The collection ends with Unplaced Framents, most of which are ascribed to "Homer." That means West dos not include any Hesiodic fragments or any from poems that are historical and technical (i.e., not strictly mythological).

I understand that West has made some choices in terms of what to include or not include that scholars will find debatable. Michael J. Anderson of Yale University enumerates these choices in his review of the volume for the Bryn Mawr Classical Review, but obviously neither my interest nor my knowledge allows me to join in on that conversation. I simply appreciate being able to have access to the original fragments to muse over when we study the Trojan War in my Classical Greek & Roman Mythology course each semester and I rethink again how I think all of these bits and pieces best fit together.