The Epic Journey in Greek and Roman Literature

From Homer to the moon, this volume explores the epic journey across space and time in the ancient world.

Thomas Biggs (Edited by), Jessica Blum (Edited by)

9781108498098, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 May 2019

336 pages, 5 colour illus.
23.4 x 15.6 x 2.1 cm, 0.7 kg

'This book is accessible to nonspecialists but is more likely to be appreciated by classical scholars, especially those focusing on epics, Greek and Roman history, and ancient views of gender and domestic life … Recommended.' S. E. Goins, Choice

This volume explores journeys across time and space in Greek and Latin literature, taking as its starting point the paradigm of travel offered by the epic genre. The epic journey is central to the dynamics of classical literature, offering a powerful lens through which characters, authors, and readers experience their real and imaginary worlds. The journey informs questions of identity formation, narrative development, historical emplotment, and constructions of heroism - topics that move through and beyond the story itself. The act of moving to and from 'home' - both a fixed point of spatial orientation and a transportable set of cultural values - thus represents a physical journey and an intellectual process. In exploring its many manifestations, the chapters in this collection reconceive the centrality of the epic journey across a wide variety of genres and historical contexts, from Homer to the moon.

1. Introduction Thomas Biggs and Jessica Blum
Part I. Odyssean Journeys: 2. In and out of the Golden Age – a Hesiodic reading of the Odyssey Egbert J. Bakker
3. Pomp? in the Odyssey Alexander C. Loney
4. 'What country, friends, is this?' Geography and exemplarity in Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica Jessica Blum
Part II. Gendered Maps: 5. Wandering, love and home in Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautica and Heliodorus' Aethiopica Silvia Montiglio
6. Heroes and homemakers in Xenophon Emily Baragwanath
7. Women's travels in the Aeneid Alison Keith
Part III. Rome's Journey – Construction of Rome through Travel: 8. Epic journeys on an urban scale – movement and travel in Virgil's Aeneid Timothy M. O'Sullivan
9. Roman and Carthaginian journeys – Punic Pietas in Naevius' Bellum Punicum and Plautus' Poenulus Thomas Biggs
10. Defining home, defining Rome – Germanicus' Eastern tour Cynthia Damon and Elizabeth Palazzolo
11. Odyssean wanderings and Greek responses to Roman Empire Andrew C. Johnston
Part IV. Unearthly Journeys: 12. From Rome to the Moon – Rutilius Namatianus and the Late antique game of knowledge Martin Devecka 13. Looking back in wonder – contemplating Homer from the Iliad to Pale Blue Dot Karen ní Mheallaigh.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary reference works [DSR], Literary studies: poetry & poets [DSC]