Dear Classical Wisdom Society Member,
Happy Birthday Virgil!
It’s incredible to imagine that on this day, a mere 2095 years ago, Publius Vergilius Maro, more commonly known as Virgil, was born.
We don’t know whether he was of Etruscan or Celtic descent… or perhaps descended from early Roman colonists, but what we do know is that he was one of the most celebrated and influential of the ancient Roman poets. His work was loved during his lifetime and has survived through the ages.
Indeed, his epic the Aeneid is considered one of the most important poems of western culture and in it, he gave the legendary Aeneas characteristics that would make him much more than just a hero on the battlefield.
Of course, everybody has a different idea of what it means to be a hero in the first place. Some people think soldiers, other people imagine single moms, and still others find some further examples in between… or totally different!
Virgil had his own ideas about heroism, and part of his goal in writing his magnum opus was to make his hero, Aeneas, a symbol of a new Roman ideal.
However, modern audiences don’t always think so... indeed, some may even question if he was a good man at all... especially considering what happened to Dido.
Today’s Member’s article is about Aeneas’ “new kind” of heroism. In it, Nicole examines some of the most common criticisms of Aeneas’ behavior and argues that—although modern readers may find it hard to believe—even his most dubious actions make him a Roman hero.
Give it a read and see if you agree… and comment below on what YOU think makes a hero.
Classical Wisdom Members: You can also celebrate Virgil’s birthday with our Classical Wisdom Society E-book.
I strongly recommend pouring a beverage of your choice (I feel Virgil would encourage wine, but it is certainly up to you!) and reading out at least a passage or two in his honor. His work is truly breathtaking and a poignant reminder of the beauty of words…Leave the noise of the modern world behind for a moment and immerse yourself in the sublime!
Download this time-tested epic with a foreword by Ben Potter and chapter introductions by Nicole Saldarriaga here:
All the best,
Anya Leonard
Founder and Director
Classical Wisdom
Steep yourself in history, in the Classics, in great literature! Life is short but the love of learning is long… Become a Classical Wisdom Member to support the classics and enjoy full access to our in-depth articles, ebooks and more:
Greatness and Goodness: A New Heroic Ideal
By Nicole Saldarriaga
It’s a story many people have heard before, even if they haven’t read all of Virgil’s Aeneid: Aeneas and Dido begin a love affair and live as if married (some scholars say for a year), until suddenly Aeneas prepares his ships and leaves, completely ignoring Dido’s distraught protests. In response, Dido kills herself with Aeneas’ abandoned sword in what is perhaps one of the most tragic deaths in the twelve-book epic.
Many modern readers understandably find themselves disgusted with Aeneas for this episode, and find it impossible to consider him a good man—but what if Aeneas’ seemingly callous actions actually prove that he has what it takes to lead a colony whose inhabitants would be the ancestors of Rome?
What if his treatment of Dido, though it seems heartless on the page, actually makes him a hero?
Más info en https://ift.tt/lx0XHwe / Tfno. & WA 607725547 Centro MENADEL (Frasco Martín) Psicología Clínica y Tradicional en Mijas. #Menadel #Psicología #Clínica #Tradicional #MijasPueblo
*No suscribimos necesariamente las opiniones o artículos aquí compartidos. No todo es lo que parece.
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