This is a question that may be more appropriate for the weekly "Short Answers to Simple Questions" featured post at the top of the page.

Rhapsodes were the professional storytellers of Archaic Greece, both before and after the rediscovery of the alphabet and writing. They would work the "international" circuit of local and pan-hellenic festivals and recite poetry - especially epic poetry - to an elite audience ranging in numbers from a few dozens to a few hundreds.

Harris, William, Ancient Literacy, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1989