Epic poetry

Epic poems are long, exciting stories told in verse. They often feature brave heroes who go on big adventures. These heroes sometimes meet gods or powerful beings who help shape the world.

People used to share these stories by speaking them out loud, passing them from one person to another. This way, many learned the stories by heart.

One of the oldest known epics is the Epic of Gilgamesh, about a king named Gilgamesh from Uruk. Other famous epics include Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and Virgil's Aeneid. These stories have inspired many other forms of art.

Epic poems come from many parts of the world. They help keep traditions and histories alive for families and communities. For example, The Tale of the Heike in Japan and Epic of Sundiata in Mali tell important stories from their places.