Who were the Homeridae of Chios?

The Homeridae (or Homerids) were a historical clan based on the Aegean island of Chios who claimed to be the descendants of the ancient Greek poet Homer.1

Originally, the members of this group were rhapsodists—professional singer-reciters of epic poetry. They asserted that they were responsible for bringing the Iliad and the Odyssey from Ionia to the Greek mainland as early as the 6th century BCE, and they likely played a role in preserving the texts of these poems. Additionally, some Homeric Hymns, as well as various myths and preludes, have been attributed to them.1

By the 4th century BCE, the term Homeridae evolved into a general noun used to describe rhapsodists and scholars of Homeric literature.1