Johns Hopkins New Translations from Antiquity: The Trojan Epic

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Composed in the third century A.D., the Trojan Epic is the earliest surviving literary evidence of many traditions surrounding the Trojan War from ancient Greece. Known as the Posthomerica, it chronicles the war's events following the burial of Hektor, Troy's greatest hero. Written by Quintus, an educated Greek in Roman Asia Minor, the epic features legendary moments such as Achilles' death, the Trojan Horse, and Troy's destruction. Despite its richness, Quintus's imitation of Homer's style has led some scholars to view it as mere pastiche. However, the Trojan Epic is significant for its insights into older, now-lost Greek epics of the Trojan War, collectively known as the Epic Cycle, which recount events absent from the Iliad and the Odyssey. Alan James's vibrant new translation highlights the work's literary-historical importance and narrative strength. His line-by-line English verse captures the tale's excitement and eloquence, focusing on themes of gods, heroes, bravery, cunning, hubris, and brutality. The edition includes a substantial introduction, a detailed annotated summary, commentary on sources, and an index of proper names. Revitalized by James, this epic will attract readers interested in Greek mythology and the legend of Troy.