Heroic Verses Anonymous (Ἄνώνυμοι ἡρωικοὶ στίχοι)

Life No biographical details exist for the anonymous poet or poets responsible for the Heroic Verses. The composition of these verses occurred over a broad period from the Hellenistic to the Late Antique era (3rd century BCE – 5th century CE). During this time, the practice of writing new hexameter poetry in the Homeric dialect for oracles, teaching, or literary imitation was widespread [1].

Works The sole known work is the Heroic Verses (Ἡρωικοὶ στίχοι), a collection of anonymous hexameters preserved only in fragments and citations within later ancient authors and scholarly commentaries [1].

Significance The verses are significant as evidence for the enduring production and authority of Homeric-style epic poetry long after the Archaic period. They are quoted primarily by later grammarians, scholiasts, and lexicographers as linguistic or metrical exemplars, making them important sources for understanding the history of Homeric scholarship and epic reception in antiquity [1].

Sources 1. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=h(rwiko/s&highlight=heroic%2Cverses