"Composed between 29 and 19 B.C. by the Roman poet Virgil, "The Aeneid" tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas and the founding of Rome while exploring themes of duty, fate, and struggle. Published after Virgil's death in 19 B.C., despite his wish for it to be burned because he considered it unfinished, the epic poem remains a monumental work of classic literature."
"Above all, it is a really compelling story. It includes everything from epic battle scenes and adventures at sea to a tragic love affair and a journey to the underworld, and it also speaks to themes that remain relevant to many readers today - how to balance private desire and public duty, how to keep going when all seems lost, and how to determine the obligations we have to future generations."
Composed between 29 and 19 B.C. by the Roman poet Virgil, The Aeneid follows Trojan hero Aeneas as he journeys to Italy and lays groundwork for Rome's founding. The epic combines battles, sea adventures, a tragic love affair, and a descent to the underworld. Central themes include duty, fate, struggle, the tension between private desire and public obligation, and obligations to future generations. The poem interrogates migration and conquest by portraying Trojans as both refugees and conquerors. The work functions as a national epic tied to Augustus and also exhibits artistic independence that complicates celebration of imperial power.
Read at Harvard Gazette
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