Epilion is described as a form of poetry that was widespread in Greek antiquity, but especially in Hellenism (336 BC – 30 BC) and is therefore characteristic of the Alexandrian literature, but also in the Roman language Poetry played a role, as in the case of neoterics. In contrast to the epic, which meant dissolute, poetical tales, the Epyllion can be regarded as a small form, which, in shorter episodes, revolves around mythical, erotic, or historical contents in verse. Such an epyllium could be between 100 and 800 verses and was usually written in hexameters or also distichs – a hexameter and pentameter pair. This small form stood against the great heroic epic, which was no longer regarded as contemporary. Nevertheless, some phrases of the epic language were used, which either refer to the overcoming of the epic or can be regarded as a form of the parody of the large form. The epilion was popular mainly by the poet Kallimachus.
The term goes back to ancient Greek, and can be translated into something like a small epic. Consequently, this is the diminutive of the noun ἔπος, which means roughly word or verse. Thus the Epyllion could be interpreted meaningfully as a word, which points to the real meaning.
This is a short form of poetry, which was regarded as more contemporary in the Hellenistic period, or even in Alexandrian literature, than the extensive narratives, such as Homer, one of the most important poets of antiquity (eg Ilias). An example of Catullus:
haec vestis priscis hominum variata figuris
heroum mira virtutes indicat arte.
namque fluentisono prospectans litore Diae,
Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur
indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores
The above example shows the verses 50-54 from the poem no. 64 of Catullus, a Roman poet of the 1st century BC, It is very clear that the new genre is strictly oriented to the hexameter, but also the brevity of the epyllion, since the whole work contains just over two hundred verses, ie, in contrast to the epic, appears brief (see full text: users .wfu.edu).
Catullus’s work revolves around the figures Theseus and Ariadne as well as the Minotaur. Rather, the poet tells what happened after the death of the Minotaur and the successful flight of Theuseus and Ariadne. The original story ends with a couple in love, Catullus shows in his work that Theseus has left the offer after a stormy love night (more: Mythos).
Representatives and examples
Greek / Hellenistic
Philitas: Hermes
Alexander Aetolus: Fisherman
unknown (see Adespota): Froschmäuserkrieg
Kallimachos: Hekale
Theocritus: Poems 13, 22, 24, [25]
Eratosthenes: Hermes (controversial)
Musk: Europe
Roman / Latin
Cinna: Zmyrna
Calvus: Io
Catullus: Poem No. 64 – The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis
Credited to: Ciris
Vergil: Aeneis 9.182-234 – Nisus and Euryalus
Ovid: Metamorphoses 8.611-724: Philemon and Baucis
