Page "Aelia Eudocia" Paragraph 31

Mark Usher analyzed this poem as a means to understand why Eudocia chose to use Homeric themes as a mean to express her biblical interpretations.

According to Usher, Eudocia needed to convey human experience relating to the Bible.

She used themes from the Iliad and Odyssey because " they contained all Eudocia needed to tell the Gospel story.

Whenever and wherever Eudocia needed to express greatness, pain, truthfulness, deceit, beauty, suffering, mourning, recognition, understanding, fear, or astonishment, there was an apt Homeric line or passage ready in her memory to be recalled.

" Eudocia's Homeric poetry is essential to understanding her as a Christian woman in early Byzantine Empire, and understanding her role as empress.

Her classical educational background is clearly seen in her poetry, which captures her literary talent.

She made a point to connect her background love for studying classical Greek literature, with her Christian beliefs.