According to some theorists, oral epic poetry would originate during an Heroic Age, and would be transmitted, by singers who displayed less creativity, through later periods.
This apparently explains why, in the Chadwicks' survey of world-wide oral and traditional poetry, The Growth of Literature (published 1932–1940),[1] medieval European epics such as the French Chansons de geste and the Spanish Cantar de Mio Cid are omitted: those societies are taken to have passed through a Heroic Age earlier.
[2] Conventionally, Heroic Ages may feature martial[3] aristocratic[4] and monarchical[5] societies, with values focused on honor, reputation, bravery,[6] generosity and friendship.
The Greek Heroic Age as described in the Iliad is dated to historic events in 1460 to 1103 BC according to the chronology of Saint Jerome.
The Sangam poems share common themes with their Greek and German counterparts, such as glory, victory, fate and honour.