URB: Cultural Lesson - The Aeneid of Vergil

The Aeneid of Vergil

One of the most famous pieces of literature that emerged from the Roman Empire is Vergil's (also spelled Virgil) Aeneid. Based heavily on the epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, Vergil provided Romans with their own epic poem featuring the hero Aeneas. Aeneas fought in the Trojan War for the Trojan forces against the Greeks. He was the son of Venus and a mortal man named Anchises. After the Trojan War, Aeneas escaped with a few other fugitives, all the while being promised a new kingdom in Italy.

After a long journey and much fighting, Aeneas founds a city called Lavinia. His son, Ascanius, also known as Iulus, founds another city, called Alba Longa. From this city comes the founder of Rome, Romulus. So, the tale of Aeneas provides the mythological history for the ancestors of those who founded Rome.

The Aeneid was commissioned by the Emperor Augustus via his master of arts, Gaius Maecenas. Augustus desired to provide Romans with an epic tale that showcased the greatness of the Roman people. He hoped to remind the people of their past and in so doing, encourage them to greatness in the present. Vergil designed his epic poem to reflect the great values of Rome and even includes a scene in the Underworld in which Aeneas is shown the great future of Rome.

The sight passage for this module is an adaptation of the story of Aeneas. It is largely based on Book VI, which is the section of the work in which Aeneas visits the Underworld and sees the future of the eternal city.