Quintus Smyrnaeus

Quintus Smyrnaeus was a Greek epic poet who flourished in Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey) in the late 4th century AD. His only surviving work is a fourteen-book epic entitled Posthomerica (Greek: Τὰ μετὰ Ὅμηρον, "After Homer"), which continues the narration of the Trojan War from the end of Homer's Iliad to the final sack of Troy.

The Posthomerica is a valuable source of information about the lost epics of the Epic Cycle, which were composed in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Quintus Smyrnaeus drew heavily on these works, and his poem is often considered to be the earliest surviving attempt to reconstruct the complete story of the Trojan War.

Quintus Smyrnaeus's style is characterized by its simplicity and clarity. He uses traditional Homeric vocabulary and metrics, but his work is not as innovative or original as that of Homer. Nevertheless, the Posthomerica is a well-crafted and engaging poem that provides a valuable glimpse into the world of ancient Greek epic poetry.

Here are some of the key points about Quintus Smyrnaeus's life and work:

• He was born in Smyrna, a city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), in the late 4th century AD.
• He was a Christian poet, and his work is often infused with Christian themes.
• His only surviving work is the Posthomerica, a fourteen-book epic that continues the narration of the Trojan War from the end of Homer's Iliad to the final sack of Troy.
• The Posthomerica is a valuable source of information about the lost epics of the Epic Cycle.
• Quintus Smyrnaeus's style is characterized by its simplicity and clarity.
• He is remembered as an important figure in the history of ancient Greek epic poetry.

Quintus Smyrnaeus is a significant figure in the history of ancient Greek epic poetry. His Posthomerica is a valuable source of information about the lost epics of the Epic Cycle, and his work has been highly influential on later poets and artists.