The Aeneid by Virgil (-29)

Name: The Aeneid
Author: Virgil

The Aeneid is an epic poem written by the Roman poet Virgil in the 1st century BC. It tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who, after the fall of Troy, travels to Italy to fulfill his destiny of founding the city of Rome. The poem begins with Aeneas and his fellow Trojans fleeing Troy after it has been sacked by the Greeks. They sail to the coast of North Africa, where they are welcomed by Dido, the queen of Carthage. Aeneas falls in love with Dido, but is forced to leave her when the gods command him to continue his journey. Aeneas and his crew then sail to Italy, where they face many obstacles, including a war with the native Latins. Eventually, Aeneas defeats the Latins and founds the city of Lavinium. He then marries the Latin princess Lavinia and they have a son, Ascanius. The poem ends with Aeneas' death and the ascension of Ascanius to the throne of Rome. The Aeneid is a celebration of the founding of Rome and the greatness of its people. It is also a meditation on the nature of fate and destiny, and the power of love and loyalty.

By Virgil · First published -29 · Genre: Epic Poetry, Classical Literature, Mythology · 13 chapters · 94,632 words

First lines

There is something grotesque in the idea of a prose translation of a poet, though the practice is become so common that it has ceased to provoke a smile or demand an apology. The language of poetry is language in fusion; that of prose is language fixed and crystallised; and an attempt to copy the one material in the other must always count on failure to convey what is, after all, one of the most essential things in poetry,--its poetical quality. And this is so with Virgil more, perhaps, than with any other poet; for more, perhaps, than any other poet Virgil depends on his poetical quality from first to last. Such a translation can only have the value of a copy of some great painting executed in mosaic, if indeed a copy in Berlin wool is not a closer analogy; and even at the best all it can have to say for itself will be in Virgil's own words, _Experiar sensus; nihil hic nisi carmina desunt._

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The Aeneid is listed on Textopian as a novel by Virgil, dated 29 BCE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Virgil
Date: 29 BCE
Language: English
Genres: Epic Poetry, Classical Literature, Mythology, Historical Fiction, Romance
Length: 94,632 words
Structure: 13 chapters, 2,704 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Epic Poetry — The Aeneid is an epic poem written by Virgil, which follows the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, as he travels to Italy and founds the city of Rome.
Classical Literature — The Aeneid is a classic work of literature written by Virgil, and is considered one of the most important works of Latin literature.
Mythology — The Aeneid draws heavily from Greek and Roman mythology, and features gods and goddesses such as Juno, Venus, and Jupiter.
Historical Fiction — The Aeneid is set in the historical context of the fall of Troy and the founding of Rome, and features characters based on historical figures such as Aeneas and Dido.