1st Edition
Nostalgias for Homer in Greek Literature of the Roman Empire
This volume investigates how versions of Trojan War narratives written in Greek in the first through fifth centuries C.E. created nostalgias for audiences.
In ancient education, the Iliad and the Odyssey were used as models through which students learned Greek language and literature. This, combined with the ruling elite’s financial encouragement of re-creations of the Greek literature of the past, created a culture of nostalgia. This book explores the different responses to this climate, particularly in the case of the third-century C.E. poet Quintus of Smyrna’s epic Posthomerica. Positioning itself as a sequel to the Iliad and a prequel to the Odyssey, the Posthomerica is unique in its middle-of-the-road response to nostalgia for Homer’s epics. This book contrasts Quintus’ poem with other responses to nostalgia for Homeric narratives in Greek literature of the Roman Empire. Some authors contradict pivotal events of the Iliad and Odyssey, such as the first-century orator Dio Chrysostom’s Trojan Speech, which claims that the Trojan hero Hector did not in fact die, contrary to the Iliad’s account. Others re-created Homeric narratives but did not contradict them, improvising some elements and adding others. Quintus strikes a compromise in his epic, re-imagining Homeric narrative by introducing new characters and scenarios, while at the same time retaining the Iliad and Odyssey’s aesthetics.
Nostalgias for Homer in Greek Literature of the Roman Empire is of interest to students and scholars working on Homeric reception and the Greek literature of the Roman Empire, as well as those interested in classical literature and reception more broadly.
1. Receptions in the Classroom 2. Popular Receptions 3. Sources 4. Word Choices 5. Roman Ruptures
Biography
Vincent Tomasso is an associate professor of Classical Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He has published articles on Homeric epic, imperial poetry, and reception studies. His wide-ranging interests appear throughout his work, from ancient Greek and Latin literature to their reception in modern art.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Tomasso, Vincent, author.
Title: Nostalgias for Homer in Greek literature of the Roman empire /
Vincent Tomasso.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2024. | Series:
Routledge monographs in classical studies | Includes bibliographical
references and index. | Summary: "This volume investigates how versions
of Trojan War narratives written in Greek in the first through fifth
centuries C.E. created nostalgia for audiences. In ancient education,
the Iliad and the Odyssey were used as models through which students
learned Greek language and literature. This, combined with the ruling
elite's financial encouragement of re-creations of the Greek past,
created a culture of nostalgia. This book explores the different
responses to this climate, particularly in the case of the third-century
C.E. poet Quintus of Smyrna's epic Posthomerica. Positioning itself as a
sequel to the Iliad and a prequel to the Odyssey, the Posthomerica is
unique in its middle-of-the-road response to nostalgia for Homer's
epics. This book contrasts Quintus' poem with other responses to
nostalgia for Homeric narratives in Greek literature of the Roman
Empire. Some authors contradict pivotal events of the Iliad and Odyssey,
such as the first-century orator Dio Chrysostom's Trojan Speech, which
claims that the Trojan hero Hector did not in fact die, contrary to the
Iliad's account. Others re-created Homeric narratives but did not
contradict them, improvising some elements and adding others. Quintus
strikes a compromise in his epic, re-imagining Homeric narrative by
introducing new characters and scenarios, while at the same time
retaining the Iliad and Odyssey's aesthetics. Nostalgias for Homer in
Greek Literature of the Roman Empire is of interest to students and
scholars working on Homeric reception and the Greek literature of the
Roman Empire, as well as those interested in classical literature and
reception more broadly"-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2023034353 (print) | LCCN 2023034354 (ebook) | ISBN
9781032456560 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032456577 (paperback) | ISBN
9781003378082 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Greek literature--Rome--History and criticism. |
Homer--Appreciation--Rome. | Quintus, Smyrnaeus, active 4th century.
Posthomerica. | LCGFT: Literary criticism.
Classification: LCC PA3086 .T66 2024 (print) | LCC PA3086 (ebook) | DDC
880.09--dc23/eng/20230816
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023034353
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023034354
