A biography

MANTUA ME GENUIT, CALABRI RAPUERE, TENET NUNC PARTHENOPE; CECINI PASCUA, RURA, DUCES

Born on Ides of October 70 BCE In village of Andea near Mantua (now Mantova) in Cisalpine Gaul His mother had a vision while pregnant with him

Monument to Vergil in Mantova, Italy

Family of humble origins Father was a potter; later employed by a magus Father became wealthy by buying surrounding forests and beekeeping Vergil spent his childhood on his family’s farm Father wanted a good education for his son: Sent him to Cremona at age 12 Later sent him to Milan, Rome, and Naples

Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus defeated Brutus and Cassius in the battle of Philippi in 42 BCE The triumvirate promised veterans land Some of this land was around Mantua and included Vergil’s farm Vergil appealed for his family in Rome and won the favor of Octavian and Maecenas He regained his farm, but moved to Rome or Naples

Went to Greece in 19 BCE and happened to run into Augustus in Athens Augustus persuaded him to return to Italy, probably to complete the Aeneid Contracted a fever and died on September 21 in Brundisium

Body taken to Naples

Eclogues (or Bucolics) Ten short pastoral poems Composed between 42 and 37 BCE Imitate Theocritus, a Greek poet Vergil makes direct references to his own life and the current times Fourth Eclogue mentions the birth of a child whose coming would restore the earth to a golden age of peace and purity Early Christians believed he predicted the birth of Christ and was a prophet

The Georgics Treatises on the glories of farming and country life Composed between 29 and 23 BCE Requested by Maecenas to inspire interest in land and restore ancient Roman virtues of thrift, industry, and simplicity Contain four books: Book I: agriculture as a whole Book II: arboriculture, with emphasis on grapes and olives Book III: stock-raising Book IV: bee-keeping

The Aeneid Epic poem recounting Aeneas’ flight from the destruction of Troy, leading refugees to a new life in Italy Composed between 30 and 19 BCE Probably commissioned by Augustus to remind Romans of his divine ancestry (Iulus and Venus)

Aeneid is the main source for the story of the Trojan Horse Became the Homer of Rome Books I-VI resemble the Odyssey, telling of Aeneas’ wanderings Books VII-XII resemble the Iliad, recounting the conflict between Aeneas and Turnus (parallels the conflict between Hector and Achilles)

Aeneid reminded Romans of their heroic heritage Maecenas wanted to give Rome a sense of pride and civility expected of a city which ruled the world Events in the Aeneid deal with Rome’s past, present, and, most importantly, it’s divinely-ordained and glorious future Is it propaganda?

Ovid, Lucan, Statius Used as a school text Commentary written in 4 th century Pompeian wall paintings Illuminated manuscripts Christian epics in Vergilian style Sortes Vergilianae Dante’s Divine Comedy Bernini Opera by Henry Purcell Modern interpretations