Virgil, born Publius Vergilius Maro, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. Born on October 15, 70 BCE in Mantua, a region of Cisalpine Gaul (now part of Italy), he is known for three major works of Latin Literature: the Eclogues, the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid.
Virgil's early life was marked by the social upheavals following the assassination of Julius Caesar. His family's farm was confiscated during land reforms, but through the influence of friends, he was able to continue his education in Rome, studying under the Epicurean philosopher Siro and later rhetoric. His poetic talent was recognized early, and he soon became part of the literary circle of Maecenas, a patron of the arts under Augustus.
Virgil's works have had a profound influence on Western literature. His Aeneid became the national epic of Rome and served as a model for many later epics, including Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, where Virgil himself appears as a guide through Hell and Purgatory. His pastoral themes influenced the development of the pastoral genre in Renaissance Literature, and his agricultural teachings in the Georgics have been praised for their detailed descriptions and moral lessons.
Virgil died on September 21, 19 BCE in Brindisi, Italy, while returning from a trip to Greece. He was buried near Naples, where his tomb became a place of pilgrimage for scholars and poets throughout the centuries.