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♠
“Give way, you Roman writers, give way, Greeks.
Something greater than the Iliad is being born.”
-- Propertius
Well, it may be a bit over-excited to say that the Aeneid is greater than the Iliad, but I am a firm believer that it rightfully belongs with the Iliad and the Odyssey. Which is saying an awful lot. And, in spite of doubts I expressed earlier about Robert Fagles' translation, this is the version for me.
With respect to the comparisons with Homer, a striking note is that the Aeneid is an incomplete work, as Virgil, himself, said that he wanted to spend another three years working out the kinks and polishing the work, whereas the Homeric pieces are finished works of perfection. Moreover, Homer is perhaps more of a convenient fiction, since the works are understood to be an accumulation of an inherited oral tradition. On the other hand, Homer was the guide for Virgil's work.
But this is only interesting commentary. As readers, it is enough to have three masterpieces that do not cease to amaze our imagination.
xXx
“Give way, you Roman writers, give way, Greeks.
Something greater than the Iliad is being born.”
-- Propertius
Well, it may be a bit over-excited to say that the Aeneid is greater than the Iliad, but I am a firm believer that it rightfully belongs with the Iliad and the Odyssey. Which is saying an awful lot. And, in spite of doubts I expressed earlier about Robert Fagles' translation, this is the version for me.
With respect to the comparisons with Homer, a striking note is that the Aeneid is an incomplete work, as Virgil, himself, said that he wanted to spend another three years working out the kinks and polishing the work, whereas the Homeric pieces are finished works of perfection. Moreover, Homer is perhaps more of a convenient fiction, since the works are understood to be an accumulation of an inherited oral tradition. On the other hand, Homer was the guide for Virgil's work.
But this is only interesting commentary. As readers, it is enough to have three masterpieces that do not cease to amaze our imagination.
