Repeated descriptive phrases characterizing heroes, gods, objects, or places in Homeric epic and similar oral-formulaic poetry. "Wine-dark sea," "rosy-fingered dawn," "swift-footed Achilles," and "grey-eyed Athena" exemplify how each significant element receives stock epithets used consistently throughout work. These formulaic descriptors aided oral composition and audience memory while creating ritualistic, ceremonial atmosphere through repetition. Anglo-Saxon kennings serve similar functions. Modern poets sometimes deliberately employ Homeric epithets to evoke archaic oral traditions or create deliberately elevated, epic tone.

The repeated descriptive phrases in Homeric epic: "wine-dark sea," "grey-eyed Athena," "swift-footed Achilles." Each character or element has characteristic epithets repeated throughout. Aided oral composition and audience memory. Anglo-Saxon kennings serve similar function. Modern poets sometimes use this technique for deliberately archaic effect.