Greek Epic Fragments

Cyclic verse.

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. Here is a new text and translation of the 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 Th...