homérica

Homérica, or Homeric, is the term used in classical studies to describe the body of epic poetry associated with Homer and the broader tradition known as Homeric epic. In a narrow sense, it denotes the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems traditionally attributed to Homer and foundational texts of ancient Greek literature. In a broader sense, it encompasses the entire Homeric epic tradition, including linguistic and formal features of Homeric Greek.

Homeric Greek is a composite dialect drawing on Ionic and Doric elements, and the poetry is composed in dactylic hexameter with extensive use of formulaic phrases and epithets such as “rosy-fingered dawn” and other recurring epithets. The poems employ oral-formulaic composition, likely the product of long oral performance before being fixed in writing during the Archaic and Classical periods. Central themes include kleos (glory), nostos (return), fate, hubris, and the interaction of gods and mortals within a world governed by divine and human agency. The narratives weave individual heroism with collective values of chieftaincy, kinship, and communal obligation.

Authorship and dating of the Homeric epics—the Homeric Question—remain topics of scholarly debate. Most scholars place the core compositions in the late 8th to early 7th century BCE, with later editorial and redactional work shaping the surviving texts. Beyond Iliad and Odyssey, the Homeric corpus includes numerous fragments and the so-called Homeric Hymns, often grouped with Homeric poetry in tradition. The Homérica tradition has profoundly influenced Western literature, literary theory, and the study of ancient Greek language and oral narrative technique.