Epyllion

A Epyllion ( ancient Greek " little epic ") is a form of poetry that comes up in the Greek Hellenism, especially in the Alexandrian literature and also in Roman poetry plays an important role, for example in the Neoterikern.

The Epyllion describes how the great epic mythical or historical events in verse (usually hexameter ) and the canonical since the Homeric epic seals diction and phraseology; often formulaic phrases or entire parts of sentences are taken from the epic language. This can be done in a serious attachment to the tradition in order to be treated cloth to lend the dignity of epic poetry, but also to create instead of as no longer appropriate perceived major epic, to modern genus ( as Callimachus ), or, finally, in parodic intent.

Important representatives and preserved examples of Epyllions are:

• Of Hesiod attributed Shield of Heracles
• Of Homer mistakenly attributed frog Mice war from the late Hellenistic period
• Callimachus, Hecale and Others Poems
• Moschos, Europe
• Catullus, poem # 64: The Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
• In the appendix Vergiliana the seals Ciris, Culex and Moretum (the latter also has features of a didactic poem )
• Kolluthos, The Abduction of Helen
• Triphiodoros, The Conquest of Troy

• Ancient literary genre