This lesson introduces Virgil, the Roman poet of the Augustan period, and explains what ancient accounts tell us about his life—and why those accounts must be treated carefully.
Publius Vergilius Maro, known in English as Virgil or Vergil, lived from 70 BC to 19 BC. He was one of the central poets of the Augustan period, when Rome was governed by Augustus. His three major works were the Eclogues, the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid.
All flashcards
Who was Virgil?
Publius Vergilius Maro was a Roman poet of the Augustan period, best known for the Eclogues, Georgics, and Aeneid.
What is a vita?
A vita is a biographical account, or life, of a person. Ancient vitae attached to commentaries are major sources for Virgil’s biography.
Why is Virgil’s traditional biography uncertain in places?
The accounts sometimes disagree, and some biographical claims may have been inferred from themes or characters in his poems.
What are the two common English spellings of Virgil’s name?
Virgil and Vergil are both accepted English forms; Vergilius is considered the original Latin spelling.
What happened to the Aeneid after Virgil died?
Although Virgil reportedly wished it destroyed because it was unfinished, Augustus ordered Varius Rufus and Plotius Tucca to publish it with minimal changes.
Quiz questions
What was Virgil’s full Latin name?Answer: Publius Vergilius Maro
Which three works are Virgil’s major poems?Answer: The Eclogues, the Georgics, and the Aeneid
Why do scholars treat some details in Virgil’s ancient biographies cautiously?Answer: Some details may derive from interpretations of his poems or later biographical traditions.
What did Augustus reportedly order after Virgil’s death?Answer: He ordered Virgil’s literary executors to publish the Aeneid with minimal changes.
What is known about the traditional location of Virgil’s birthplace?Answer: Tradition places it at Andes near Mantua, but Andes’s precise location is disputed.
Based on the Wikipedia article Virgil, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.