How did the Homeridae help preserve Homeric poetry?

The Homeridae (or Homerids) were a historical clan based on the island of Chios who claimed to be descendants of the poet Homer. They played a significant role in the preservation and dissemination of Homeric poetry through the following methods:1

• Performance: Originally, the Homeridae were rhapsodists, or singer-reciters, who performed the Iliad and the Odyssey orally. This tradition of oral performance was the primary means by which these epics were transmitted through generations.123
• Transmission: The clan claimed to have brought these epic poems from Ionia to the Greek mainland as early as the 6th century BCE.1
• Textual Preservation: Beyond oral recitation, the Homeridae may have been responsible for preserving the actual texts of poems ascribed to Homer.1
• Expansion of the Corpus: The group is also credited with the authorship of various Homeric Hymns, preludes, and mythical tales.1

By the 4th century BCE, the term "Homeridae" evolved into a general designation for rhapsodists and scholars dedicated to the study and performance of Homeric works.1