Join classics experts Katharine Earnshaw, Neville Morley, and Diana Spencer as they explore Virgil's 'Georgics'—a remarkable blend of farming manual and philosophical treatise. They discuss its intricate connections between agriculture and post-civil war politics in Rome, exploring the significance of rural life and land ownership. The conversation highlights the symbolism of bees as reflections of civil unrest and examines Virgil’s Epicurean influences, making his insights relevant to today's environmental challenges.
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Cincinnatus the Peasant Soldier
Cincinnatus, a Roman cultural hero, was appointed dictator during an invasion.
He promptly returned to his farm after winning the battle, exemplifying Roman ideals.
insights INSIGHT
Hesiod's Works and Days
Hesiod's Works and Days is a moral text disguised as a farming manual.
It explores humanity's relationship with the world and the divine through the lens of work.
insights INSIGHT
Cato vs. Virgil on Land
Cato and Virgil both emphasize understanding the land before farming it.
However, Cato focuses on financial gain while Virgil prioritizes ethical considerations.
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Virgil's Georgics is a four-book poem that explores the agricultural practices of ancient Rome. It delves into the cultivation of crops, the care of trees and animals, and the mysteries of beekeeping. Beyond its practical aspects, the Georgics offers a philosophical reflection on humanity's relationship with nature, the cyclical nature of time, and the impact of political turmoil on rural life. The poem's use of epic hexameter elevates the subject matter, blending practical advice with profound meditations on morality, mortality, and the human condition. Its enduring influence on literature and environmental thought is undeniable.
Works and days
Hesiod
Hesiod's Works and Days is a didactic poem that offers practical advice on farming, social conduct, and justice. It provides insights into the daily life of ancient Greek farmers and their struggles. The poem also includes myths and legends, illustrating the consequences of good and bad behavior. It's considered a valuable source for understanding ancient Greek society and values. The poem's focus on work ethic, justice, and social order makes it a significant contribution to ancient Greek literature.
On agriculture
Marcus Terentius Varro
Cato
Cato the Elder
Cato's 'De Agri Cultura' is the oldest surviving work of Latin prose, providing practical advice on farming and rural management. Varro's 'Rerum Rusticarum' is a more detailed work, covering agriculture, animal husbandry, and other aspects of country life. Both works are invaluable for understanding ancient Roman agricultural practices.
De Rerum Natura
On the Nature of Things
Titus Lucretius Carus
De Rerum Natura is a six-book poem written in Latin hexameters by Lucretius. It sets forth the physical theory of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, explaining the principles of atomism, the mortality of the soul, and the natural explanations for various phenomena. The poem is divided into six books, each addressing different aspects of Epicurean philosophy, including the atomic structure of the universe, the nature of mind and soul, the mechanics of sense perception, and the origins of the world and human society. Lucretius argues that the universe operates according to natural laws without divine intervention, and he aims to eliminate fear of death and the supernatural by demonstrating that all phenomena can be explained by natural causes[2][3][4].
Aeneid
Virgil
James Howard Mantinband
In the year 29 BC the great Roman poet Virgil published these lines:
Blessed is he who has succeeded in learning the laws of nature’s working, has cast beneath his feet all fear and fate’s implacable decree, and the howl of insatiable Death. But happy too is he who knows the rural gods…
They’re from his poem the Georgics, a detailed account of farming life in the Italy of the time. ‘Georgics’ means ‘agricultural things’, and it’s often been read as a farming manual. But it was written at a moment when the Roman world was emerging from a period of civil war, and questions of land ownership and management were heavily contested. It’s also a philosophical reflection on humanity’s relationship with the natural world, the ravages of time, and the politics of Virgil’s day.
It’s exerted a profound influence on European writing about agriculture and rural life, and has much to offer environmental thinking today.
With
Katharine Earnshaw
Senior Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter;
Neville Morley
Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter
and
Diana Spencer
Professor of Classics at the University of Birmingham
In Our Time 
