Routledge Nostalgias for Homer in Greek Literature Book

Explore the complex relationship between the Roman Empire and the Greek past with this scholarly work from Routledge Monographs in Classical Studies. This volume examines how Greek-language versions of Trojan War narratives from the first through fifth centuries C.E. built a sense of nostalgia among their audiences. By analyzing the role of the Iliad and the Odyssey as foundational educational tools, the book explains how these texts shaped language and literary studies. It also looks at how the financial support of the ruling elite for Greek re-creations helped build a specific cultural climate. A central focus of this study is the response to this cultural movement, specifically through the work of the third-century C.E. poet Quintus of Smyrna. His epic, the Posthomerica, serves as a key example of a work positioned as a sequel to the Homeric tradition. This book provides deep insight into how ancient literature functioned to connect readers to a celebrated mythological history.