Aegimius is the name given to an ancient Greek epic poet from the 6th century BCE. No details of the poet's own life survive. The name is known only because it is attached to a now-lost epic poem, also called the Aegimius.
This lost poem belonged to a tradition known as the Epic Cycle, a collection of archaic poems that told mythological stories not covered in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Based on surviving fragments and ancient references, the poem narrated the adventures of the Dorian hero Aegimius, a mythical ancestor. The story involved his battles against the Lapiths and likely featured the hero Heracles coming to his aid.
The poem's primary significance is as an example of the wider world of early Greek epic poetry that existed alongside the more famous works of Homer. According to modern scholars, its focus on the Dorians suggests it played a role in shaping the identity and origin stories of that major Greek ethnic group, connecting them to Panhellenic mythology. Knowledge of the poem comes entirely from fragments and mentions in later ancient authors, such as the geographer Strabo.
Available Works
Sources
- Oxford Research Encyclopedia Entry (Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics) Accessed: 2026-01-25
- Perseus Entry (Perseus Digital Library) Accessed: 2026-01-25
- ToposText Entry (ToposText) Accessed: 2026-01-25