TED-ED: Why should you read Virgil's "Aeneid"? - Mark Robinson

In 19 BC, Roman poet Virgil traveled with Emperor Augustus, working on the Aeneid, an epic poem. Despite wanting it destroyed, Augustus published it, seeing its value in Roman literature. The Aeneid, mirroring Greek epics, explores Roman politics and Aeneas's journey, linking him to Augustus. Virgil subtly critiques Augustus, questioning power and authority.

Why did Virgil want his manuscript to be burned, and what was the outcome?

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How does Virgil portray the concept of duty, or 'pietas', through Aeneas's character?

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What questions about power and authority does Virgil's story raise in the context of Augustus's rule?

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