Epic Cycle

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The epic cycle, also known as the Trojan cycle, is a collection of ancient Greek epic poetry related to the history of the Trojan War. It includes poems that narrate the events surrounding the war and its aftermath.

Origins and Definition

The term "epic cycle" was coined by Callimachus of Cyrene (an Alexandrian poet and philologist of the 3rd century BC) to describe a collection of epic poems composed in Greek between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. These poems were based on an even older oral tradition.

Poets and Context

The authors of the epic cycle are not well-documented, similar to Homer. Modern scholars consider them to be authors of oral works, like Homer. In the classical period, the first epic poems, including the Iliad and Odyssey, were attributed to Homer. However, other poets seem to have lived from the 7th to the 5th century BC.

Poems Included in the Epic Cycle

The epic cycle includes:

* The Trojan cycle
* Poems related to the destruction of Troy
* Telegonia (the story of Telamon's son Telegonus)
* Other poems, such as those attributed to the poets of Cyprus, Ethiopia, Mala Iliad, Notire, and Homer (Iliad and Odyssey)

Preservation and Transmission

Most of the epic cycle has been lost over time, except for fragments and the works of Homer and Hesiod. The remaining poems are often incomplete and have been transmitted through oral tradition.

Chronology

The epic cycle is typically dated to the 8th-6th centuries BC, with some poets living as late as the 5th century BC. However, the exact chronology of the individual poets is not well-established.

Note: I've kept the original text's tone and style while making sure to avoid redundancies and resolve conflicts logically. The resulting article provides a comprehensive overview of the epic cycle, its origins, and its constituent poems.