CC 302/347
INTRO TO ANCIENT ROME
Outline for
Lecture 23: Literature (ii). Epic
- much Roman epic is large-scale, narrative poetry,
concerned with the deeds of heroes and/or the history of a
nation.
- In Rome epic became a political genre: Rome's history,
values, destiny were main topics of Latin epic
Virgil (70-19 BCE)
- wrote Eclogues, Georgics, and Aeneid
- Aeneid as a foundation myth -- about the
foundation of Rome
- theme: the divinely authorized rise of the Roman empire
- Virgil glorifies the ideals of Rome but also stresses
human cost
- two aspects to this tale:
- wanderings (Books 1-6)
- war in Italy (Books 7-12)
- reworking of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad
Chief Characters of Aeneid
- Aeneas, son of Anchises and Venus
- Anchises, father of Aeneas
- Ascanius (Iulus), son of Aeneas and Creusa
- Dido, Queen of Carthage
- Juno (Greek Hera)
- Jupiter (Greek Zeus)
- Venus (Greek Aphrodite)
- Mercury (Greek Hermes)
- Neptune (Greek Poseidon)
- King Latinus & Queen Amata
- Lavinia, Italian princess
- Turnus, Italian prince
- Evander & Pallas
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