Literature Humanities 07-08

Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus

While Virgil was still working on The Aeneid, he visited Rome to read selections to Augustus and his sister Octavia. Virgil reads Books II, IV, and VI to the siblings and, legend has it, that Octavia fainted when the death of her son was mentioned in Book 6.

Jean-Joseph Taillason's '"Virgil reading the 'Aeneid' to Augustus and Octavia" was exhibited at the Salon in Paris in 1787 and now hangs in the National Gallery in London.
(Click to enlarge)

Aeneid Link-O-Rama

First up. a book-by-book summary to help you keep the big picture in mind. Not a terribly thorough one (see "overall impression" at top), but enough to keep you oriented at least.

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Robert Feagles' new translation of The Aeneid is getting significant pub from the critical world. The Boston Globe  reflects on why The Aeneid still matters.
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Looking for background material? Well, virgil.org is your one-stop hypertext emporium. Maps, bibliographies, biographies, and other detritus from the scholarly world.
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Right here is the most complete list of Greek-to-Roman names I've yet seen.
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One more thing: a map of Aeneas' wanderings. Wanderings of Aeneas.jpg