Dactylic hexameters are a classic meter used in epic poetry. They consist of six metrical feet, each having three syllables, with the first syllable being accented and the following two being unaccented. In classical literature, these meters were used in works such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. Synonyms for dactylic hexameters include "hexameter verse," "heroic hexameter," and "epic meter." These terms are useful for describing this specific form of metrical composition, which is characterized by its length and rhythmic pattern. Whether studying ancient literature or modern works that draw on these classical forms, understanding dactylic hexameters is an important part of literary analysis.