Virgil
Virgil (70-19 BC) was an ancient Roman poet, regarded as the greatest of all Latin poets and one of the most influential writers in the Western tradition. His epic poem the Aeneid became the national epic of Rome and shaped European literature for two thousand years.
The Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who escapes the fall of Troy and, after long wanderings and a doomed love affair with Queen Dido of Carthage, journeys to Italy to become the ancestor of the Roman people. Written to celebrate Rome and its destiny, it blends the heroism of Homer with a distinctly Roman sense of duty and sacrifice. Virgil also wrote the Eclogues (pastoral poems) and the Georgics (on farming and rural life).
Deeply admired in his own time and ever after, Virgil was famously chosen by Dante as his guide through Hell and Purgatory in the Divine Comedy.
His poetry is majestic but written in ancient Latin verse. Our editions present the story clearly. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Virgil in the library · 2 works
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The Aeneid
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Frequently asked questions about Virgil
What did Virgil write?
Virgil wrote three major works: the Aeneid, his epic poem about the Trojan hero Aeneas and the founding of Rome; the Eclogues (or Bucolics), a set of pastoral poems; and the Georgics, a poem on agriculture and country life. The Aeneid is his masterpiece and one of the most important poems in Western literature.
What is the Aeneid about?
The Aeneid follows Aeneas, a hero who flees the burning city of Troy and endures years of hardship, including a tragic love affair with Queen Dido of Carthage, before reaching Italy, where his descendants will found Rome. It combines the adventure of Homer's epics with a Roman vision of duty, fate, and destiny. It was written to glorify Rome and its emperor, Augustus.
Where should I start with Virgil?
Start with the Aeneid, his epic masterpiece and the work for which he is most famous. Its opening books — the fall of Troy and the love of Dido — are especially gripping. The Eclogues and Georgics are shorter and gentler, best explored after the epic if you wish to read more.
Why was Virgil chosen as Dante's guide?
In Dante's Divine Comedy, the poet Virgil serves as Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory, representing human reason and the height of pre-Christian wisdom. Dante revered Virgil as the greatest of poets and a moral teacher, which is why he gave him this honoured role. It reflects the enormous prestige Virgil held throughout the Middle Ages.
Is the Aeneid hard to read?
In older verse translations it can be, because of its epic style, classical allusions, and formal language. The underlying story of adventure, love, war, and destiny, however, is dramatic and moving. A clear modern-English edition lets you follow the narrative and its power without wrestling with archaic verse.
When did Virgil live?
Virgil lived from 70 to 19 BC, during the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire under Augustus. He worked on the Aeneid for the last decade of his life and left it not quite finished at his death. He is buried near Naples, and his tomb was long treated as a shrine.
Where can I read Virgil for free?
Virgil's works are in the public domain, and older translations are freely available. Many are in dense verse. Here you can read the opening of the Aeneid free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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