Editing Epic poetry (section)

== Etymology ==
The English word ''epic'' comes from [[Latin]] {{lang|la|epicus}}, which itself comes from the [[Ancient Greek]] adjective {{lang|grc-latn|epikos}} ({{lang|grc|ἐπικός}}), from {{lang|grc-latn|epos}} ({{lang|grc|ἔπος}}),<ref>{{Cite OED | epic | id=63237 }}</ref>
'word, story, poem'.<ref>{{cite dictionary
 |title=Epic
 |dictionary=Online Etymology Dictionary
 |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=epic
}}</ref>

In Ancient Greek, 'epic' could refer to all poetry in [[dactylic hexameter]] ({{tlit|grc|epea}}), which included not only [[Homer]] but also the wisdom poetry of [[Hesiod]], the utterances of the [[Delphic oracle]], and the strange theological verses attributed to [[Orpheus]]. Later tradition, however, has restricted the term 'epic' to ''heroic epic'', as described in this article.