In Our Time The Aeneid
11 snips
Apr 21, 2005 
In this enlightening discussion, guests Philip Hardie, a Latin expert from Oxford, Catharine Edwards, a classicist from Birkbeck, and Edith Hall, a cultural historian from Durham, delve into Virgil's 'The Aeneid'. They explore how Aeneas embodies Roman identity amidst the chaos of war, linking it to Augustus's reign. The impact of Greek culture on Roman literature, the poignant themes of duty versus passion through Aeneas's trials, and the emotional depth of female characters like Dido are all examined, revealing the epic's enduring relevance.
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Aeneas: Trojan Ancestor for Augustus
- Virgil selected Aeneas because he was the Trojan survivor ancestor of Augustus and a pious warrior figure in Homer’s Iliad.
- The Iliad contains prophetic elements that suited Virgil’s narrative of Roman origins.
Wandering and War in The Aeneid
- The Aeneid’s plot splits into a painful Mediterranean wander for Aeneas and then warfare to establish the Roman race in Italy.
- This epic unfolds the foundational struggle linking Troy’s fall to Rome’s rise under Augustus.
Augustan Era Literary Flourishing
- Augustus' rise and patronage coincided with a golden age of Roman literature including Virgil, Horace, and Ovid.
- Virgil’s work reflects this cultural blooming alongside Augustus’ political consolidation.
