New Short Biography: Virgil (70-19 BCE)

(Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus, Octavia, and Livia, by Jean-Baptiste Wicar (1762–1834), [Public Domain] via Creative Commons)

The poet Publius Vergilius Maro, better known as Virgil, was born in the rural village of Andes, near the modern day region of Mantua, Italy. He grew up during a tremendous time of tumultuous change. In the 1^st Century BCE, the power of the Roman Senate was challenged by many powerful authoritarian figures. The dictator, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, had only been dead for nine years when Virgil was born, and Julius Caesar was leading Roman legions into modern Switzerland, France, Belgium and England during Virgil’s teenage years. 

 

Continue reading about the fascinating life of Virgil, HERE.

The Misadventures of Publius Clodius Pulcher

The Odd, but Awesome, Story of Julius Caesar’s Popular Hooligan of the People:

In 62 BCE, a hilarious event brought Publius Clodius Pulcher into the service of one of the greatest leaders of Rome. Clodius was a patrician of populist political standing, and his notorious antics gained him great popularity among the masses. This is the story of Clodius’ unpredictable participation in the transformation of Rome from a republic to an authoritarian state.

Read more about the strange life of Publius Clodius Pulcher, here (or click the above picture).