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Virgil 70-19 BC
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Image above:
Virgil
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Virgil, or Vergil, was a Roman
poet. His Latin name was Publius Vergilius Maro.
Virgil's best work ever was the
Aeneid, which he started to compile in the year 30 BC.
Unfortunately, Virgil died before
he could finish this epic.
The Romans in Virgil's days had a high
opinion of his poetry because it gave them a sense of national
pride.
Virgil never married.
What is Virgil's
Aeneid About?
The story puts Rome in the center of the universe and tells about
its founder, its mission to straighten out other civilizations, and
its preferred treatment by divine forces.
It also reminds very much of Homer's
works.
In more detail:
Aeneas, the son of Venus, is on the
move after Troy had been taken. He lands on Italy's shores and his
descendants become the Roman people.
But before he got there, he met Dido,
queen of Carthage, aka Elyssa, who came to Aeneas' aid, fell in love
with him, and wanted him to stay in Carthage.
Jove reminds Aeneas of his real
mission and the good man takes off direction Italy. Dido is sad
beyond belief and kills herself, but not before having released a
prophecy regarding Hannibal.
And so on . . .
When it became Virgil's time to kick
the bucket, he demanded for his Aeneid to be burned because he
thought it unfinished. People didn't cooperate, but rather saved and
published the work.
Here you can
read The Aeneid of Virgil.
Virgil's Legacy
Virgil had a huge influence on English literature.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, for one, was one
of Virgil's admirers.
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