Aristeia

This chapter discusses use of the epic aristeia as a narrative element in Homer and the Cycle. At least four secure examples of aristeiai in the Cycle reveal a simpler structure than examples from Homer’s Iliad. This “cyclic” form of the aristeia typically features as champion a Trojan ally who eventually falls at the hands of a foremost Achaean warrior. Differences between cyclic and Iliadic aristeia-sequences reflect the persons and themes involved, but also bear an intimate relationship to the different narrative requirements of shorter poems. I argue further that the simpler cyclic form of the aristeia can be seen to underlie the more complicated and varied Homeric examples.