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Background of the Aeneid

Background of the Aeneid. pp. 14-18 The Life of Vergil. #1) Publius Vergilius Maro. Born : Oct. 15, 70 BC in Mantua (Andes in N. Italy) Died : Sept. 21, 19 BC in Brundisium (51 years old) Buried : Naples Family : plebian but educated. #2) Vergil in History.

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Background of the Aeneid

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  1. Background of the Aeneid pp. 14-18 The Life of Vergil

  2. #1) Publius Vergilius Maro • Born: Oct. 15, 70 BC in Mantua (Andes in N. Italy) • Died: Sept. 21, 19 BC in Brundisium (51 years old) • Buried: Naples • Family: plebian but educated

  3. #2) Vergil in History • The moment in history he interpreted was the establishment of the empire of Augustus • Spent 11 years writing the Aeneid

  4. #3) Vergil’s Education • Aristocratic education (sent away to school at Cremona, Milan, Naples, and Rome) • Studied history, literature, philosophy, rhetoric & oratory • Original profession: lawyer • “frail body, slow speech, diffident temperament”

  5. #4) Vergil and Octavian • Land argument • Lands of Cremona/Mantua were siezed by soldiers (Octavian, Lepidus, and Antony) after the Battle of Phillipi b/c area was opposed to the triumvirate • Vergil escaped by swimming across a river! • Went to Rome • Introduced to Octavian through friends • Land returned- wrote the Bucolics (pastoral poems about the loves and occupations of herdsmen) in gratitude of the favor • Published ~42-39BC • Aka Eclogues (Selections) • “Magnae spes altera Romae” -Cicero

  6. #5) Vergil and Maecenas • Due to land debate, Maecenas noticed Vergil • The two became friends • Maecenas encouraged and gave suggestions to Vergil (i.e. The Georgics) • Published in 30 BC when Vergil was 40 • Argiculture-revive the interests of the countryman • 1. Crops • 2. Olive and vine • 3. Stock • 4. Bee-keeping

  7. #6 & #9) The Aeneid • Published AFTER Vergil’s death by order of Augustus • EPIC* • National: Roman spirit • Religious: traces origin (Augustus from Venus) • Literary: polished and planned

  8. #10) Similarities: Aeneid vs. Iliad &Odyssey • Odyssey: Wanderings and journey of Odysseus trying to get home after the Trojan War (Penelope/Telemachus @ Ithaca) • Iliad: Story of the Trojan War (focuses on the wrath of Achilles against Agamemnon and ends with Hector’s funeral *not the taking of the city) • First 6 books of Aeneid - Odyssey • Show wanderings of Aeneas for 7 years trying to find the new home promised to him by Jove • Last 6 books of Aeneid - Iliad • Show the wars waged that were necessary to found the eternal city • Aeneas was main character b/c he was in Homer and Ennius (father of Latin poetry-Annales about Aeneas)

  9. More Similarities • Hexameter • 12 Books • Divine intervention • Allegories and extended similies • Long rhetorical speeches • Muse Invocation • Flashback “in medias res”

  10. VERGIL Subjective and literary Main focus: purpose and style Serious and propagandistic Problems and solutions Literary NOT oral art HOMER Objective Main focus: entertainment Lessons are by products of the story Primitive people ORAL #11) Differences:Vergil vs. Homer*

  11. More Differences • Prophecy • National Hero with Romanitas • Roman spirit and character in Aeneas (Augustus)

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