Have you heard of the Classic Roman poet, Vergil? W. Coleman Nevils, S.J., D.D., PhD., has explored his work on geography in "The Perennial Geographer: After 2,000 Years, Vergil is Still the Most Widely Read of Latin Poets - First to Popularize Geography of the Roman Empire," National Geographic Magazine, October, 1930. The occasion for the article was the Bimillennial Celebration of Vergil's birth on October 15 in 70 B.C., over 2,000 years ago.
Vergil was born in the country, sickly and unfit for work such as farming or soldiering and thus became highly educated. He caught the attention of a wealthy Roman politician who decided he could use Vergil to glorify the land and the pursuits of agriculture and help inaugurate a "back to the farm movement" Vergil's patriotism inspired him to write "The Georgies - four books, giving a treatise on agriculture" (p. 442).
Nevils portrays Vergil as "Rome's most patriotic geographer. While he did, indeed, take delight in Italy's natural splendor, he went beyond this to instill in his fellow citizens not merely an admiration for their land and all its resources, but he would mingle the useful with the lovely, and strove by his lay to stir men to help in peace the country that had won such renown in war" (p. 451).
Vergil's greatest poem is the story of Aeneas and the founding of Rome, 9,896 lines long! Mr. Nevils tells us the complicated, exciting adventure. The part I found most interesting was a prophecy that was believed to be the coming of Jesus Christ: "The poet tells of the new golden age to come during the reign of Augustus - the birth of a wondrous child. The earth is to be freed from guilt and fear and dread. He shall be given a life divine" (p. 464).
In another part, the hero of the poem, Aeneas, visits his dead father in heaven after passing through hell and burying a man someone has neglected to bury.
The author comments, "It is no wonder, then, that amid the world-wide commemoration of the Vergilian bimillenary, the Italians should lead in grandiose festivals and gorgeous celebrations. . .The Italian Academy has offered a prize of 5,000 lire for the best ode on Vergil. Arnaldo Mussolini, brother of the Duce, has been superintending the development of a memorial park near Mantua. A set of bimillenary stamps has been issued by the Royal Post Office. . ." (p. 465).
Vergil: "But Rome! 'Tis thine alone with awful sway
To rule mankind and make the world obey." (photo caption, p. 448).
As far as the prospect of reading about a dead classical poet, I'll admit I was not excited. But the photos in this article brought back peasant memories of my trip to Italy in June of 2005 with daughter #3, Cathy. We visited some of the places shown in this article's photos, St. Peter's Basilica, Castle of St. Angelo, the Victor Emmanuel II Monument, all in Rome, plus the Grand Canal in Venice.
Jan: "But Rome! I'll return to you soon
Under the light of the same bright moon."
(you may laugh at my feeble attempt!)
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