Posthomerica
Epic poem completing the Trojan War narrative after the Iliad.
The Posthomerica (τὰ μεθ’ Ὅμηρον) is an epic poem in Greek hexameter verse by Quintus of Smyrna, probably written in the 3rd century AD. It narrates the events of the Trojan War from the death of Hector to the fall of Troy, covering ground from the lost Epic Cycle poems Aethiopis, Little Iliad, and Iliou Persis. The work is notable as the earliest surviving account of this portion of the war.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Quintus Smyrnaeus
- Written
- 3rd to 4th century AD
- Language
- Ancient Greek
- Subject
- Trojan War
- Genre
- Epic poetry
- Meter
- Dactylic hexameter
Facts from the source article.
Summary
The plot begins immediately after Hector's body is regained by the Trojans. Penthesileia, a daughter of Ares, arrives from the Thermodon River with Amazon warriors, having come to escape her people after accidentally killing her sister while aiming for a stag. Priam believes she will save Troy, but Andromache doubts her capability; Priam's prayer to Zeus for her return is answered with an omen of an eagle holding a dove, signifying her death. Ajax and Achilles rest in the city while Hippoclameia tries to rally Trojan women to fight, but Theano dissuades them. Penthesileia kills Podarces in battle, but Ajax convinces Achilles to fight; Achilles kills Penthesileia by impaling her and her horse, then regrets not making her his wife. Thersites mocks Achilles, who kills him, upsetting Diomedes. Thymoites urges the Trojans to leave the city, but Priam and Paris insist on fighting, expecting Memnon and his Ethiopian army. Polydamas predicts the Ethiopians will lose. Zeus foresees a deadly battle. Memnon kills Nestor's son Antilochos, but Achilles eventually kills Memnon after a long struggle. Dawn, distraught, refuses to let the sun rise until Zeus persuades her. Apollo wounds Achilles in the ankle, which later proves fatal. The Trojans remain fearful of the injured Achilles. After Achilles dies, Paris tries to take his corpse, but Ajax defends it, killing Glaucos and injuring Aeneas; Odysseus helps. Ajax stuns Paris with a rock, forcing him to retreat. The Greeks recover Achilles' body. Ajax, Phoinix, Agamemnon, Briseis, and Thetis eulogize him; Calliope assures Thetis her son will be remembered. Funeral games are held.
Content of each book
Book 1 begins without a Muse invocation, continuing from the Iliad's final line. It describes the arrival of the Amazon queen Penthesileia, her welcome by the Trojans, her early battle successes, and her defeat by Achilles, who kills Thersites for mocking his admiration of her. The book ends with burials. Book 2 opens with a Trojan debate: Thymoetes despairs, Priam encourages, and Polydamas suggests returning Helen, which Paris angrily rejects. Memnon and his Ethiopian troops arrive, are entertained, and Memnon initially succeeds in battle before being killed by Achilles. Dawn has Memnon's body carried away by winds and transforms his troops into birds; the book closes with mourning. Book 3: Apollo warns Achilles to stop slaughtering; when he continues, Apollo shoots him in the ankle. A struggle over Achilles' body follows, led by Ajax, son of Telamon; the Trojans retreat and the body is recovered. The book ends with lamentations by Phoenix, Briseïs, the Nereids, and Thetis, and preparations for Achilles' funeral. Poseidon consoles Thetis, assuring her Achilles will join the gods and receive worship.
Relationship to previous epics
The style has been criticized as subpar to Homer, but the poem is valuable as the earliest surviving account of this period. Quintus used the Iliad's closing line as his opening: 'Such was the funeral of Hector. And now there came an Amazon...' The story aims to complete the Iliad and give characters closure; for instance, characters who had previously hated an ally, such as Philoctetes toward Odysseus in Sophocles' play, now overcome anger to create harmony.
More in Trojan War Literature
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