Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) was a classical Roman poet, best known for three major works: the “Eclogues” (or “Bucolics”), the “Georgics”, and the “Aeneid”. Born on October 15, 70 BCE, in a village near Mantua in Cisalpine Gaul, and died on September 21, 19 BCE, Virgil is considered one of the greatest poets in Latin literature.
Life and Personality
Despite his immense fame, we have only scattered details about Virgil’s personal life, much of it pieced together from his writings and historical records. He is often depicted as a somewhat introverted and sensitive figure. His health was fragile, and he was known for his studious nature.
Virgil was not just a masterful writer; he was a symbolic figure in Roman culture. His works were seen as encapsulating the spirit and ideals of Rome, and as such, he was venerated by subsequent generations. In the Middle Ages, he was even sometimes thought of as a sort of pagan prophet, due to perceived references in the “Eclogues” to the coming of a savior.
He died at Brundisium (modern Brindisi) on a return trip from Greece before he could put the final touches on the “Aeneid”. Legend has it that he left instructions for the epic to be burned because it was unfinished, but Augustus intervened, ensuring its publication and everlasting fame.
Works
Aeneid
This is Virgil’s magnum opus. An epic poem written in 12 books, it narrates the journey of Aeneas from the fall of Troy to the establishment of the Roman race in Italy. Commissioned by Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, the poem seeks to provide Rome with a national epic comparable to the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey” of the Greeks. The “Aeneid” is deeply ingrained in the Western canon and has had a profound influence on European literature and thought.
Eclogues (Bucolics)
This is a collection of ten pastoral poems that reflect on the idealized world of shepherds and countryside life. They also delve into the political realities of his time, especially the land confiscations following the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE.
Georgics
A didactic poem in four books, it’s about farming and country life. While it provides advice on agricultural practices, it also explores broader philosophical and cosmological themes, making it more than just a farming manual.