Happy Birthday Virgil!
Publius Vergilius Maro was born on 15th October 70 BC and died on 21 September 19 BC. He composed the Eclogues, Georgics, and the Aeneid. I said above that I would give you a short biography of Virgil: a biography by Varius has been lost but was incorporated into Suetonius's work, and is mentioned in commentaries of Servius and Donatus. So while we do have some personal information about Virgil, it's accuracy is questionable. It is believed Virgil was born in Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy) and he may have come from a wealthy family who could afford to give him an eduation.
The Eclogues were published in 39 BC. These are bucolic poems, a genre which depicts the pastoral lifestyle in an idealised manner. The Georgics offers instruction in running a farm, including tending crops, livestock, horses, and beekeeping!
The Aeneid is Virgil's most famous work and was commissioned by Augustus. Written in the last years of Virgil's life, the poem tells the journey of Aeneas, one of Priam's sons, from Troy to Italy and the site of the future foundation of Rome.
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