Rome Readings (In addition to the textbook chapter)

* Read books 1 and 6 at the partially-translated, annotated version of Vergil's Aeneid OR at the MIT site linked below. This story was the "official" epic poem of the Roman Empire, written in honor of the Emperor Augustus and his reign. The story chronicles the wanderings of Aeneas, 'founder' of Rome and survivor of the Trojan War. This epic did not originate in the oral tradition of the earlier Greek epics; rather, it was created as a written story. What are some parallels/pilferings you can identify from the Homeric epics (Odyssey, Iliad)? See also the fine background/synopsis at Wiki.

- Full text available at: http://classics.mit.edu/Virgil/aeneid.html

* Also read books 1 (Daphne and Phoebus Apollo) and 4 (Pyramus and Thisbe) of Ovid's Metamorphoses, the text is which provided below. You may also read this fine introduction to and synopsis of the books of Metamorphoses. This is another Roman "epic" written in a more satyrical vein. Do you recognize some of the historical and mythological themes from the Greek epic songs? Greek mythology? Roman mythology relies heavily on the Greek which preceded it; Romans considered themselves - much like the Macedonian conquerors before them - the heirs of Greek culture and ingenuity. Ovid was not as well-received by the Roman establishment as Vergil. Can you see why, given his treatment of various gods and Greco-Roman heroes in this poem? How is his treatment different than the 'epics' which came before?

- Full text in translation: http://www.tkline.freeserve.co.uk/Ovhome.htm