Virgil

Publius Vergilius Maro, known as Virgil, was born to a farmer's family in Andes, a village near Mantua in Cisalpine Gaul. His birth marked the beginning of a life that would profoundly influence Roman literature.

Virgil begins his formal education in Cremona, later moving to Milan and Rome to study rhetoric, philosophy, and literature. These studies laid the foundation for his future literary achievements.

Virgil publishes the Eclogues, a collection of ten pastoral poems that blend traditional Greek bucolic themes with Roman political and social issues. The Eclogues established his reputation as a promising young poet.

Virgil begins writing the Georgics, a didactic poem on agriculture and rural life. Commissioned by Maecenas, a powerful patron, the Georgics reflect Virgil's deep connection to the land and his admiration for the Roman countryside.

Virgil meets Octavian (later Augustus), the future first Roman emperor, and receives patronage. This support allows him to focus on his literary work and eventually leads to his greatest achievement, the Aeneid.

Virgil completes the Georgics, which is widely acclaimed for its poetic beauty and philosophical depth. The work cements his status as one of the leading poets of the Augustan age.

Virgil starts work on the Aeneid, an epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who travels to Italy and becomes the ancestor of the Romans. The Aeneid is intended to glorify Roman history and values.

Although Virgil dies before completing the Aeneid, his friends and Augustus ensure its publication. The Aeneid becomes a cornerstone of Roman literature and a defining work of Western literature.

Virgil dies in Brundisium (modern Brindisi) while returning from Greece. His final request was to have the Aeneid burned, but Augustus intervenes to preserve and publish the epic poem.