One of the oldest is 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'. It dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and contains elements like heroic quests and encounters with the supernatural, which are typical in fantasy. Another old one is 'Beowulf'. It features a hero fighting monsters like Grendel and a dragon, which are classic fantasy themes.
One of the contenders for the oldest fantasy novel is 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'. It dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and contains elements like mythical creatures and heroic quests which are typical of the fantasy genre.
Sure. 'Le Morte d'Arthur' is an old one. It's about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, full of magic swords, quests, and sorcery. It has been highly influential in the fantasy genre.
Another old novel is 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes, written in the early 17th century. It's a satirical work that mocks the chivalric romances of the time. It follows the adventures of a deluded knight and his squire, Sancho Panza, and has had a huge influence on Western literature.
We can identify the oldest novels by looking at historical records. For example, if a manuscript has been dated back to a very early time through methods like carbon dating or by historical references in other ancient texts. Also, the language used can give clues. If it's an archaic form of a language that is known to have been used in a certain period, it can indicate its age.
Sure, 'The Odyssey' is a strong candidate too. It was written by Homer a long time ago. In it, Odysseus has to face all sorts of fantastical challenges. He has to outwit the Cyclops, resist the allure of the sirens, and survive the wrath of the sea god Poseidon. All these elements make it very much like a fantasy novel, even though it's also an important piece of classical literature.
The oldest version of the Eight Heavenly Dragons was published in 1992. The first edition of the Eight Heavenly Dragons was written by Jin Yong. The novel was one of Jin Yong's masterpieces. It told the story of Guo Jing and Huang Rong, a couple in the Northern Song Dynasty, who finally achieved legendary martial arts after going through all kinds of hardships in the war against Jin Dynasty.