It’s interesting that after witnessing the vision of Rome’s future greatness in the underworld, Vergil has Aeneas exit through the gate of ivory, which he earlier associates with false dreams. Could this be a subtle subversion of the Augustan narrative asserting continuity between the principate and republican Rome?
That’s such an interesting connection to draw. Questions about the relationship between Augustus and Vergil — what were Vergil’s personal opinions on the principate? How much of an influence did Augustus exert over the content of the Aeneid? — are endlessly absorbing and can, I think, very legitimately be argued in a number of different ways on the basis of the evidence available to us.
These are questions I’m grappling with at the moment for my next book and I’m still working out where I fall on some of them. What do you think?
Great question. I think the answer is complicated by the fact that Vergil never completed the Aeneid and reportedly ordered it to be burned on his deathbed. Given his status and connections, it seems plausible that Vergil recognized the darker realities behind the Second Triumvirate and the early principate, and may have sought to comment on them, however subtly.
That said, it’s hard for me to believe that something this overt could have escaped the notice of Augustan censors unless there was a strong alternative reading available. What that alternative might be isn't obvious to me, but I’m certainly no expert.
Fascinating read! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining industry line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
Rome is eternal; here we are still talking about it long after the empire has become an ideology only. I also can’t help but compare the seizure of power in the empire justified as a return to former greatness with my own government’s attempt to seize autocratic power based on a return to a mythical greatness.
There is something almost eerie and impossibly heavy seeing the world turn its focus to Rome now with the Pope's death, and you've perfectly described it. The fact that, although far from what the ancients imagined, Rome still exercises its empire, is incredible. I don't know much about the early popes, so I wonder the degree of power Pope Leo the Great would have had at the time?
Also, one of my favorite examples of the shift towards Christianity in Rome is the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, which was later converted into a Roman Catholic church. So odd to see in person!
Got me looking up wiki to discover the seeming interchangeability of the spelling Vergil/ Virgil. And here I was just thinking you were being extra polite. 🙄
It’s interesting that after witnessing the vision of Rome’s future greatness in the underworld, Vergil has Aeneas exit through the gate of ivory, which he earlier associates with false dreams. Could this be a subtle subversion of the Augustan narrative asserting continuity between the principate and republican Rome?
That’s such an interesting connection to draw. Questions about the relationship between Augustus and Vergil — what were Vergil’s personal opinions on the principate? How much of an influence did Augustus exert over the content of the Aeneid? — are endlessly absorbing and can, I think, very legitimately be argued in a number of different ways on the basis of the evidence available to us.
These are questions I’m grappling with at the moment for my next book and I’m still working out where I fall on some of them. What do you think?
Great question. I think the answer is complicated by the fact that Vergil never completed the Aeneid and reportedly ordered it to be burned on his deathbed. Given his status and connections, it seems plausible that Vergil recognized the darker realities behind the Second Triumvirate and the early principate, and may have sought to comment on them, however subtly.
That said, it’s hard for me to believe that something this overt could have escaped the notice of Augustan censors unless there was a strong alternative reading available. What that alternative might be isn't obvious to me, but I’m certainly no expert.
Fascinating read! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining industry line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
check us out:
https://thesecretingredient.substack.com
Rome is eternal; here we are still talking about it long after the empire has become an ideology only. I also can’t help but compare the seizure of power in the empire justified as a return to former greatness with my own government’s attempt to seize autocratic power based on a return to a mythical greatness.
What color should our MRGA hats be?
Fine essay.
There is something almost eerie and impossibly heavy seeing the world turn its focus to Rome now with the Pope's death, and you've perfectly described it. The fact that, although far from what the ancients imagined, Rome still exercises its empire, is incredible. I don't know much about the early popes, so I wonder the degree of power Pope Leo the Great would have had at the time?
Also, one of my favorite examples of the shift towards Christianity in Rome is the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, which was later converted into a Roman Catholic church. So odd to see in person!
Fantastic.
Their mosaic flooring is still good…
Brilliant as always xx
Got me looking up wiki to discover the seeming interchangeability of the spelling Vergil/ Virgil. And here I was just thinking you were being extra polite. 🙄