Why should you read Virgil's "Aeneid"? - Mark Robinson

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In 19 BC, the Roman poet Virgil suffered heatstroke and died on his journey back to Italy. On his deathbed, he thought about the manuscript he had been working on for over ten years, an epic poem called the "Aeneid." Unsatisfied with the final edit, he asked his friends to burn it. But they refused, and soon after Virgil’s death, Augustus ordered it to be published. Why? Mark Robinson explains.
Lesson by Mark Robinson, directed by TED-Ed.
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[@muhammadgbadegesin8043]

Thank God for Virgil's friends. Otherwise we wouldn't have this masterpiece. It reminds me of how Kafka asked his friend to burn his manuscripts before he died, but he refused.

[@yasirwaleed7453]

Me too I remembered Kafka

[@delightfulgenius4635]

So did I. Except Kafka's friend told him before his death that he intended to publish them.

[@Alireza_farhoudi]

Narrated `Aisha: that the Prophet (ﷺ) married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that `Aisha remained with the Prophet (ﷺ) for nine years (i.e. till his death).

[@Alireza_farhoudi]

Leave pisslame.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

I've read it. If they did it really well, planned in advance, I would love to see the Illiad, the Oddesy, and the Aeneid made into an epic film trillogy.

[@camillachopinet3828]

Sam God the thing is that if they cut or change even a couple of details there would be so many more people as the usual fans Armies of historians, literature professores and experts of any kind triggered I couldn't bear it

[@ATROFlAR]

We already have the movie Troy from 2004 iirc

[@stevied3400]

ATROFlAR It sucked. Made a 10-year battle look like it took place in a week. Plus it didn't have any gods or goddesses.

[@ATROFlAR]

Probably too early for a remake though imo

[@JohnnyLodge2]

Maybe an Amazon or Neflix miniseries. Otherwise there isn't too much continuity IIRC. A shared universe, yes, but idk

[@SyedTauheed]

It's interesting how at his deathbed Virgil might have wanted the Aeneid burned because he thought that it might be the only thing he would be remembered by in the distant future, and he didn't think it was good enough, but we've kept history so well that some 2000 years later, we even know about the order on the death bed, if that makes any sense.

[@dystoplexdystopia6161]

Syed Tauheed interesting fact, Aeneid's fame survived this long because of christian monks who copied this poem over and over , because the book " foresaw the birth of a child who would have brought peace" and of course christians tought that Virgil was inspired by God to announce the birth of Jesus while this was an utter coincidence

[@ChunChun9527]

Yes but Eclogues and Georgics still dragged eyes of later audiences

[@fgdj2000]

It just shows how important writing and preserving written texts and records are. To paraphrase Tolkien and Hideo Kojima: preserving history and building the future are one and the same as history is always applicable, whether true or feigned, and can inform present decisions with both wisdom and warning.

[@abdullahchhab2325]

@@supervulcan07 no

[@Alireza_farhoudi]

​@@abdullahchhab2325Narrated `Aisha: that the Prophet (ﷺ) married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that `Aisha remained with the Prophet (ﷺ) for nine years (i.e. till his death).

[@WhaleManMan]

Virgil: Yo can I copy from you Homer: Sure just dont make it too obvious Virgil:

[@antifern0]

Imitatio et aemulatio

[@allwaterlife3861]

It is similar but Virgil isn’t just an emulator.

[@rodrigolins9127]

@@allwaterlife3861 People think that imitating Homer is an easy task hahaha, and the result will be a book like the Aeneid.

[@Zak-tk8wv]

Simpson

[@wankawanka3053]

Immitation is the greatest form of flattery

[@sapphirewingthefurrycritic985]

All I knew about Virgil was that he was the guy who lead Dante through hell and purgatory.

[@GanyuSimpingDegenerate]

Dante was a big fan of Vergil so he wrote fanfic where he can spend time with his idol

[@jera5838]

​@@GanyuSimpingDegenerateLMAO?! Could you give me more info about that pls?

[@quevedo1580]

@@jera5838 Divine comedy, bro

[@Marcus_Hildebrandt]

Meanings of the quotations in the video: 0:44: Mantua me genuit, Calabri rapuere, tenet nunc. Parthenope; cecini pascua, rura, duces. - "Mantua gave birth to me, the Calabrians took me, now Naples holds me; I sang of pastures [the Eclogues], country [the Georgics] and leaders [the Aeneid]" 1:27: Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris - "Of arms I sing and the man who first from the coasts of Troy" 2:16: Alea iacta est. - "The die is cast" 3:16: Timeo Danaoes et dona ferentes. - "I fear the Danaans [Greeks], even when they bear gifts" 3:19: Coniugium vocat; hoc praetexit nomine culpam. - "She called it a marriage; she used this word to screen her sin." 3:27: Nunc animis opus, Aenea, nunc pectore firmo. - "Now, O Aeneas, you stand in need of fortitude, and a resolute heart.” 3:34: Tempestas telorum ac ferreus ingruit imber. - "Through all the air goes a thick storm of weapons, and faster falls the iron rain." 4:31: Falsa ad caelum mittunt insomnia manes. - "Through it the dead send false dreams up toward the sky." 4:41 O terque quaterque beati, quis ante ora patrum Troiae sub moenibus altis contigit oppetere! - "Thrice and four times happy those who under Troy's walls before their fathers died!"

[@swastiksahu6889]

You sir, are a good man

[@mediolanumhibernicus3353]

Excellent. Can you suggest a good English translation of The Aeneid? Do you think it must be a verse translation? And also, a good translation of The Thebaid? Many thanks.

[@whatchachattin]

@@mediolanumhibernicus3353 Personally I would recommend any Penguin or Oxford World's Classics edition of the Aeneid, in prose rather than poetry (since recreating the original Latin rhythm is impossible, although the layout on the page can be recreated).

[@rubytuesday5989]

I had to read this for Latin class as well as translate it, and I loved it!

[@docsaurabh25]

I would love to learn latin

[@docsaurabh25]

Can U tell me how I can , or where

[@Camaleonte9087]

@@docsaurabh25 there are lots of books like lingua latina per se illustrata and KZbin channel speaking latin, such as scorpio martianus, the internet is full of resources, but it's a tough quest Indeed

[@paulcojocaru8448]

All of it?!?

[@VeraDonna]

Same.

[@dogofgraam]

The video got me from "why should I care about this old poem" to "wow, the freedom to exercise power in whatever way a roman emperor wants gave rise to a lot of complex human thoughts and rationale". Ted-Ed guiding us as always!

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

True

[@nicolenicole6325]

In Italy it's mandatory to read it I remember first reading it when I was 12 years old and then at 15 It's a really amazing poem in it's original language but it's worth it

[@stevied3400]

Niky Neko ツ Its been mandatory reading in Italy for 2000 years (amongst those who could afford the education).

[@AnandVenigalla]

Mandatory in the original Latin?

[@AroAceGamer]

Is it mandatory to read The Divine Comedy as well?

[@Emma-hg7ud]

@@AroAceGamer yes, because it's one of the most important pieces of italian literature. The Divine Comedy created the bases of italian language

[@Emma-hg7ud]

@@AnandVenigalla only if the student also studies Latin as a subject, if not, they only read it translated

[@earleebyrd]

lmao imagine being in your deathbed telling ppl your final will and they're like "nah"

[@EMPANAO321]

Lol

[@Emme-Kappa]

The part with Dido was super important. As a result of Heneas abandoning her and saying no to their love the queen of Carthage basically declarers she'll seek on revenge on him and on his descendents... Planting the seed for the future conflict between Rome and Carthage in the punic wars.

[@ecurewitz]

That didn't end up so well for Carthage, did it?

[@ap9812]

i think it can also be a contrast between our heneas choses country and marcus antonius chose love over country

[@natasyaangelika9150]

*Sees why you should read "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri* Me : "Hmmm........could this be?" *Sees Virgil coming closer in the distance* Me : "Ah, there he is!"

[@supermonkeyball7488]

I see a storm on the forecast

[@Late_Guy]

Vergil in Roman had lots of MOTIVATION in writing a poem

[@GanyuSimpingDegenerate]

I am the storm that is approaching

[@rencius7329]

My gens' crest is is the demon of death.

[@dellsantiago8108]

Wow what an epic narrator... my mouth was like open the whole presentation.i will surely pick this classic..

[@qing7902]

The opening line of the Aeneid truly gets better the more you read into it: firstly the topics of the Epic are brought up being “arma virumque”, “arms and the man”, mimicking how Homer states the topics of his two epics in the first line (“menon” for “anger” in the Iliad and “andra” for “the man” in the Odyssey), setting up the two halves of the epic which commonly are divided into the “Odysseic” half and the “Iliadic” half immediately. Secondly, he says “cano” which is “I sing”, whereas Homer asks the “Muse” to sing to him, or rather through him, the Epic, which allows for Virgil to establish his personal hold over the story which cannot be compared with Homer’s disconnected voice. It also lets the topic change in Book 7 much easier when Virgil says “and now I will sing of something else”. Man I adore this epic, it’s so rewarding to study if you are just a little patient.

[@DavidJLee-zr8ic]

Who's drawing these vivid animations? Whoever they are... Giant kudos to you silent heroes!

[@LannasMissingLink]

The animators are literally in the credits and the video descriptions of every video

[@clownworld4555]

“Hero” is a bit of an overstatement, m8

[@lux2082]

Pro tip: Vergil loves anastrophe (basically scrambling word order) and it makes translating way worse so any classics students, good luck

[@stevied3400]

Snow Wolf the internet helped me translate it in college.

[@iddods2117]

Actually it's really easy to read in Latin.

[@kapa4163]

Look for the verb! Start with the verb.

[@stencharbonneau2322]

@@kapa4163 Virgil was Gaulish-born. He spoke Roman as a second language and his style shows influence from his Celtic first language, hence the anastrophe (quoting my Celtic language teacher Leon Fleuriot)

[@rageagainstthemicrowave1313]

@@stencharbonneau2322 you mean Latin?

[@TheSec09]

I didn't know Aeneas travels in the underworld. That's why Dante chose Virgil as his guide in Inferno.

[@TheMrBonzz]

If any reason some of you are still uncertain, try Overly sarcastic production, they make a great Video containing explanation on the short version there and i love their channel

[@lordmurphy4344]

William Wijaya they are lovely

[@TheMrBonzz]

Lord Murphy ikr, i love red's video alot especially the Journey to the west Quadrulogy and the Poetic and Edda parts as well, she has a great sense of humour and those self inserted commentary while reading the story is just brilliant.

[@youmebothorneither]

Yes, great channel

[@hhmmhmhm5743]

"Γενναιον ψευδος" My boy Augustus just got *_burned_* 😂

[@Basic_Cat]

Guggle transloot, time.!

[@Basic_Cat]

nope still don’t get it please do an explain

[@hhmmhmhm5743]

@@Basic_Cat First of all, I misspelled (ψεύδος, not φεύδος). It means he ain't actually brave.

[@quentinbrown9300]

Wow, the Aeneid really seems... motivated.

[@brentonbreivik2837]

I need more power

[@orwellianwiress]

I WAS WAITING FOR THIS

[@noahesmail3966]

I’m in AP Latin and have read selections from this work. I am glad to have had the opportunity to read such a timeless poem

[@erikamohrmann7986]

We’re reading it in my Philosophy class right now. It’s very interesting, especially the talk of duty and destiny.

[@MelissaClaasen]

epic narration. Such a joy to listen to this video. I'm loving these "why you should read" videos.

[@iberius9937]

Love this gentleman's baritone voice and classic received pronunciation.

[@robertthomson1587]

I studied the Aeneid in high school over 40 years ago, and grew to love it then. I still re-read it.

[@rickiovine2170]

Wow. Just came across this. What a fine, and perfectly succinct bio on the Aeneid, which I just put in my Kindle library. I am currently reading the Iliad and Odyssey, and the Aeneid just seems to fit into this epic poem journey.

[@alicep7035]

I remember learning about this in my music history 10 course and how it related to the opera Dido and Aeneas which is one of my all time favourites now.

[@donnie8032]

I like to think that Augustus saw the deeper meaning of the story and still published it as a warning for future rules.

[@drewcampbell8555]

I read this nearly 25 years ago and the modern preface gave some of this context. Really liked the succinct and evocative delivery of the information here; it felt like a great encouragement to read the text rather than a dry academic introduction.

[@ashleyhyatt6319]

Thank you for the video and trying to put more people in touch with classical literature. One correction: Your pronunciation of the Latin was wrong with regards to the V. The classical Latins pronounced it similarly to the modern W.

[@emiliano4793]

Yes but the video is in English so it’s generally accepted that Anglicised pronunciation is used. E.g we wouldn’t pronounce Cicero as ‘Kikero’ even though that’s how it would be pronounced in Latin.

[@capuron926]

I have this book at home, with the original Latin and the translation. It's truly amazing

[@kennethsealey3213]

I read it many times.l have read an English translation and the original Latin version..A great epic poem .To fully appreciate the beauty of the language one must read the original Latin version.It is the reason why the poet and the poem has remained popular over the many centuries.

[@yebkamin]

Well you just saved me a kindle purchase

[@JeffTY77450]

Very interesting, thank you. Have always loved to read. Read the Iliad and the Odyssey many years ago. Never read the Aeneid and now I regret it. For that matter, towards the top of my long list of regrets is all the books I haven’t read and will never read. Yes, I still read, but my 62-year-old brain can’t read for hours on end like it once could. And although I still enjoy reading, I no longer experience that feeling of being transported to another world. As Mick Jagger used to sing, “What a drag it is growing old.”

[@shreyachoudhary8227]

Please keep on making these Vids, the type of ed books you say we should read are always Mah type, thanks Ted-ed!!!

[@gshetty100]

Love his voice.

[@MYoung-yr9yi]

Thanks for the intro, very helpful in understanding the canons...

[@maxineviolann]

I love these historical TED-ED videos :)

[@spiritedrenee9895]

Does every Roman pice of literature have the main character travel through the underworld? I think was the first. But it does seem like every one of these poetic stories has them deal with a lover and sometimes struggle over mainly just that.

[@gamiezion]

pretty sure the original founding myth (which was JUST romulus and remus, so minus aeneas) did not include a passage through the underworld. though it (sort of) has a passage to the underworld (the story ending more or less when remus is killed for jumping the wall romulus was building).

[@heyyou5680]

Yes that is true but I swear there a tons of Roman literature not about love and underworld stuff. For example Satyricon, I have to study it for my Latin exam.

[@francoandres3850]

The Satyrcon also has the character struggling for the love of Gitone, but it acts more as a mockery of Roman society though.

[@heyyou5680]

Franco Andrés oh oops you are right!

[@mysticblue108]

Description Untitled well traveling through an unknown world is a rememberable part of the heroes journey

[@lazybill5830]

0:04 This book Can expand upon this: As A Man Thinketh by James Allen on here. Here's a qoute from it that I like " A man doesn't directly control his circumstances but he can control his thoughts which indirectly yet surely shape his circumstances. " I don't think anyone can do the above qoute all the time but learning to focus on controlling one's thoughts as much as one can is vital.

[@christianwestling2019]

Its a shame it hasn't benn made into a movie or a series

[@myrcewalda5812]

Love the Aeneid!

[@Liscinov]

Been seeing copies of this book in my local bookstore and while I was interested in getting it (mostly because the author Virgil shares the name of a character from DMC), I was worried that I might not enjoy the book seeing as it's not that much of a light read. This video really convinced me however, defenitely adding this book to my reading collection!

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

If this was burned,we'll never find out about it.

[@toyotaprius79]

_no shit..._

[@mstalcup]

Were this to have been burned, we would have never found out about it.

[@RottenDoctorGonzo]

mstalcup If this were burned, we should never have found out about it. (moron)

[@fumarc4501]

Thank you, I needed something to read this weekend.

[@pinco_pallo]

FUmarc Lol, I suppose it'll take you more than a weekend to entirely read it.

[@jaggerlicari7326]

I loved this video. helped so much for my homework.

[@plutobailey2778]

Good job im studying this book next year then.

[@quackattack9006]

I read this book for classical studies and it is waaaaaaaay more interesting that it sounds here!

[@geraldgrenier8132]

It also connects Romulus and Remus the founders of Rome to the survivors of the Fall of Troy.

[@stevied3400]

Gerald Grenier Ergo, some of the early Romans were part Asian.

[@semiautothanoscar9612]

Its anatolian

[@solaurelian7638]

@@stevied3400 How?

[@EmperorHirohito-kv2uc]

By the way,there also is a ukrainian adaptation by Ivan Kotlyarevsky. Its like Aeneid but with cossacs, it is called the "encyclopedia" of ukrainian culture with depictions of food ,clothes and many more things of the cossac period.

[@abdullahchhab2325]

I got here through reading about it

[@paulstillman2878]

I own John Dryden's translation of The Aenid. Great read.

[@richardglady3009]

That was a great synopsis and spurred me on to tryto read the poem. Thank you!

[@samuelzhao7925]

I loved the Aeneid, having read it for my AP Latin course

[@kapa4163]

Robert Fagles Translation is superb.

[@Finnatese]

Greatest book i ever read. Aneas is the perfect hero and his name just sticks in your mind after reading it, and you see were so many other books millenia later got their influences from. It's just incredible.

[@DTM-Books]

This was great, thanks for sharing.

[@hunnitbaehunnitbae8804]

the same animation from that Icarus and the Sun video! I love it! 😍💖

[@hathija5236]

Thank you for your explanation. It was useful.

[@animula8322]

Terrific introduction to the context of Aeneid.

[@janarevalo8840]

Great analysis, but it's a lot more fun that what this video shows, one of my big time favs.

[@svensven8994]

finally one of these worth listening to

[@seanlinehan8478]

"Will Lucius survive?" *TELL US TED-ED* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@AL-jq2bi]

#Motivated

[@wingeddance]

Aww Ted-ed, you spoiled the ending :P

[@pancutio]

Angelic Zeru Well it ends kind of suddenly and with no explanation,unless you read it you can't really understand it

[@augistineaquinas3325]

proud to say I just finished reading this poem

[@abhaypandey4456]

DO one on Niccolo Michaeveli

[@dukeofmars4847]

I would love to see you give this treatment to 'the curious incident of the dog in the night-time'. The way the book is written alone will make for some great visuals.

[@glurp1]

Good video, though I don't know why he didn't use classical Latin pronunciation in reading from the poem.

[@evolvo1]

This is definitely some Top Gear narrating... narrator sounds like James May in case you're wondering lol

[@tanmayroy1489]

Hi! Dear Ted Ed why haven't you yet made a video on Milton's Paradise Lost. It echoes Aeneid in releasing 12 books for its second edition like Aeneid. Just plz make a section on "Why you think one should read Paradise Lost"

[@jmalko9152]

Informative!

[@Ages_the_Raven]

I had to search for Adrian Dannatt . His voice is perfect for narration

[@ThisPerfectFinale]

Please do why you should read "A Little Life"

[@strange_and_magnificent]

Love the animation.

[@PhilomelasTongue]

Not to be that person, but there are a lot of errors in the Latin quotations, e.g. "timeo danaoes" should be "danaos," "conigium" should be "coniugium," "ed caelum" should be "ad caelum." Given that this is an educational video, it would be nice to see that corrected.

[@soumayamirelhaouari9965]

Thank you!

[@connorturner3004]

I'm reading the aeneid in my 9th grade lit class and it's good

[@ismailmiah1446]

Great read

[@michaelexman5474]

a nice piece of roman PR work

[@stevenperezhenriquez1332]

I've been Tried like three times in my life to read it, And I can't continue I don't know why, cuz it's such a great text I Know.... I failed to my forefathers....

[@starofmagi8127]

What a voice.... ❤

[@javiermfmaldonadofernandez1489]

Really nice video

[@s0ngf0rx]

So good. I love these videos on literature! Please keep it up! I promise, once I have a real job I'll donate :)

[@czechmeoutbabe1997]

I sing of *arms* and the *man*. The video is correct when it says man means Aeneas, but it is also a reference to the Odyssey (a story of a personal quest) in the way that arms are a reference to the Iliad.

[@greenbutter3190]

Stable video 👍

[@matthewfernandez2698]

My only takeaway from this video was how lucky I am to live in a time where walking in the hot sun for a day doesn't automatically lead to heat stroke and death.

[@maudesuzelle]

The narrator has a great voice!

[@jaym2005]

this is very interesting stuff! my latin teacher is presenting this right now

[@toriwoodward045]

daaammnn his voice is like silk

[@posato1488]

just a request, but can you please do the divine comedy and the iliad? thanks

[@lovelylittlegirl3332]

Please do a why you should read Luigi Pirandello.

[@milleliza1490]

Kinda rude that augustus and Virgil's friends didn't heed Virgil's final wish.

[@Alyss93]

It truly is an amazing story though, and it would have been a shame to lose it.

[@VenomCold]

theres similar storys within every part of the arts .. one good example is chopin; most of his most famous pieces were published against his will posthumously etc.

[@anonunknown7999]

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” It was for the good of the world to save the Aeneid

[@InquisitorThomas]

You think that’s bad? That’s nothing compared to having to deal with Dante for most of his self glorifying fanfiction.

[@highestsettings]

Not really, they clearly knew that Virgil was wrong and it would have been a disservice in this case to have followed it.

[@bkboiiaded1]

Can you do one on Ovids Metamorphoses?

[@theconsigliere5769]

Dante : "fangirl squeaks"

[@kevinnavarro9585]

I can't wait to read it.

[@posepause8703]

3:13 doesn't "pietas" mean "piety" or "mercy"? Am I missing something?

[@finlayhunt54]

Dedication to one’s state, family or god

[@sweetmatcha]

Weird I got this in my recommended cuz I actually have to read this tomorrow for my English class

[@maidahSh]

Btw why doesn’t anyone talk about how beautiful Virgil looks, depicted through the images

[@opame1560]

studied this poem at gcse, now it’s one of my favourites. the gcse was painful though my lord