Is the Aeneid a pro- or anti-Augustan poem?

About the lecture

In this module, we think about whether the Aeneid should be read as a pro- or anti-Augustan, focusing in particular on: (i) the political context: Virgil’s relationship with Maecenas, one of Augustus’ chief political advisors, and Augustus’ claim that he had descended from Aeneas; (ii) the parts of the Aeneid that depict contemporary Roman history, such as the pageant of Roman heroes in Book 6 and the images on the shield of Aeneas in Book 8; (iii) the importance of Book 6 of the Aeneid, in which Aeneas meets the shades of the victims of the story so far (Palinurus, Dido, Deiphobus, etc.) before seeing what the future has in store for him and his descendants; (iv) Otis Brooks’ pro-Augustan reading of Book 6; (v) Anthony Boyle’s anti-Augustan reading of Book 6; (vi) Adam Parry’s view that the Aeneid has both pro- and anti-Augustan elements; and (vii) the importance of Marcellus within the pageant of heroes.

About the lecturer

Sharon Marshall is Associate Professor in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter and teaches predominantly classical literature and the ancient languages. Her interest in inclusive and innovative pedagogy underpins her own teaching practice, inspired by her research on Classics education in both historical and contemporary contexts.