About Vergil
True or false: Vergil finished the Aeneid before he died.
False
The first half of the Aeneid, detailing Aeneas' travels from Troy to Italy, is based on which other epic?
the Odyssey
Who "wrote" both of these epics?
Homer
What is the setting for most epic poems?
Vast! Covers a lot of places
What are the first three words of the Aeneid in Latin?
arma virumque cano
What was confiscated from Vergil after 42 BCE?
his family farm
The second half of the Aeneid, concerning the war that Aeneas fought once he landed in Italy, is largely based on which other epic?
the Iliad
Which hero was the greatest Trojan warrior?
Hector
Epic poems often feature the hero's descent into this place.
The underworld
How many books are in the Aeneid?
12
Which friend of Augustus became Vergil's patron?
Maecenas
Which queen of which city did Aeneas "marry" and then abandon?
Queen Dido of Carthage
Name one of the things that Odysseus or his crew did that made it harder for him to sail home.
There's so many! They were kinda dumb.
There's a famous catalogue in the Iliad. What many things are listed ad nauseam?
Ships
What are both names of Aeneas' son?
Ascanius; Iulus
Name another book written by Vergil.
-Rome was fated to destroy Carthage, her favorite city
-She's still mad about the apple
What's the name of the witch who turned Odysseus' men into pigs, but then he stayed on her island for another year or two anyway?
Fun fact: in another epic, she marries Odysseus' son Telemachus.
Circe
What Roman value is Aeneas supposed to be the perfect embodiment of?
pietas - piety - devotion to the gods
Why couldn't Aeneas carry the statues of the gods himself?
Blood guilt - he had not been ritually purified after killing
Publius Vergilius Maro
Name:
- the woman Aeneas will marry in Italy
- that woman's dad
Lavinia, Latinus
How was Achilles drawn back into fighting after his temper tantrum?
Patroclus died wearing his armor - had to avenge his best friend
Epic poems begin with an invitation to the muse named...
Calliope
What is the alternate spelling of Vergil and whence does this spelling come?
He became associated with magic and prophecy in the middle ages