A Companion to Ancient Epic presents for the first time a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of ancient Near Eastern, Greek and Roman epic. It offers a multi-disciplinary discussion of both longstanding ideas and newer perspectives.

A Companion to the Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman epic traditions

Considers the interrelation between these different traditions

Provides a balanced overview of longstanding ideas and newer perspectives in the study of epic

Shows how scholarship over the last forty years has transformed the ways that we conceive of and understand the genre

Covers recently introduced topics, such as the role of women, the history of reception, and comparison with living analogues from oral tradition

The editor and contributors are leading scholars in the field

Includes a detailed index of poems, poets, technical terms, and important figures and events