Wk12 -F - Myth - F24 - Aeneid&AugustanRome

Goals

  • Discuss: Greek influence on Roman myth and literature

  • Describe: Main developments in Roman history important for understanding the Aeneid

  • Explain: Relationship of the Aeneid to its political/historical and literary contexts, and the pre-existing myth of Aeneas

  • Describe: Connection between Greek and Roman religion and mythology

Rome: Cultural Context

Greece vs. Rome:

  • Greece: Shared language, traditions, and cultural practices

  • Rome: Individual city, Latin-speaking, earliest settlements around 1000 BCE

  • Influence: Significant Greek influence on Roman culture from the Archaic period; Romans identified and merged native deity attributes with Greek gods (e.g., Minerva/Athena).

Rome: Political Background

Expansion:

  • Late 5th century BCE: Expansion of Roman control.

  • By 275 BCE: Dominant power in Italy.

Punic Wars:

  • 1st Punic War: 264-241 BCE

  • 2nd Punic War: 218-201 BCE

  • 3rd Punic War: 149-146 BCE

  • Resulted in Roman control of Greece by 146 BCE.

Roman Civil Wars

  • Conflicts:

    • Sulla vs. Marius (88-82 BCE)

    • Julius Caesar vs. Pompey (49-45 BCE)

    • Octavian vs. Antony and Cleopatra (31 BCE): Octavian's victory leads to consolidation of power.

Vergil

Publius Vergilius Maro (70-21 BCE)

  • Wrote Eclogues, Georgics, and Aeneid.

  • His works blended Greek and Roman themes and catered to Augustus' cultural revival.

  • Aeneid: Initiated in 29 BCE, unfinished at death in 19 BCE.

Aeneid: Historical/Political Context

  • Resulted from Octavian's victory, contributing to peace and stability in Rome.

  • Developed as a prestigious literary response celebrating Augustus.

Comparison Between Myths

  • Greek myth: Aeneas as Rome's founder.

  • Roman myth: Romulus as founder; Vergil’s choice of Aeneas symbolizes continuity and ties to Greek literary tradition.

Transformation of Homeric Epics

Structure:

  • Aeneid parallels the Odyssey and Iliad, but in reverse.

  • Major characters and episodes echo those in Homeric works (e.g., Dido vs. Calypso).

History, Myth, and Communal Identity

  • Foundation myth plays a critical role in community identity.

  • Trojan War illustrates the connection between myth and historical narrative in both ancient and modern contexts.

Augustus and Aeneas

  • Aeneas symbolizes Augustus through genealogical and thematic connections (pietas).

  • Establishments of Augustus within the epic served propagandistic purposes related to Rome's destiny.

Vergil’s Aeneid Opening Lines

  • Text: "Arma virumque cano..."

  • Establishing themes of arms and foundational myth.

Questions for Reflection

  • What are the key takeaways from today's lecture?

  • What surprised or challenged you?

  • What remains unclear?