Ovid and Virgil




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ClassGraphic When Emperor Augustus Caesar ascended the throne of ancient Rome in 37 BCE, two of the most famous Roman authors, Ovid and Virgil, sought his favor by writing two works that exemplified the beliefs and traditions of Rome. In Metamorphoses, the poet Ovid created a compendium of stories, legends, and myths, many of which originated with the Greeks, depicting the ancients’ beliefs about the creation of the world, the troublesome and dangerous relations with the gods, and the amorous adventures of mortals. Ovid’s stories inspired many later authors of Western culture, including Shakespeare and Chaucer, as well as artists such as Michelangelo and Bernini. Virgil created the epic story of the founding of Rome in his Aeneid. It begins with the Trojan hero Aeneas fleeing the destruction of Troy by the Greeks. Along his journey, we encounter Aeneas’ ill-fated love affair with Queen Dido of Carthage and his journey through the underworld until he finally conquers the Italian hills which will become Rome. Our texts are Metamorphoses translated by Stanley Lombardo (Hackett, 2010) and The Aeneid translated by Sarah Ruden (revised ed. Yale Press, 2021). Join us as we read and discuss these spirited and entertaining journeys through the Roman imagination.      
 

Class Details

14 Session(s)
Weekly - Tue

Location
TBD

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition: 

$0.00

Email olli@northwestern.edu for more information. Send to Friend »

Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
3/3/2026 - 6/2/2026 Weekly - Tue 09:45 AM - 11:45 AM TBD Michael Dolesh  ; Janet Jablon  ; Judy Myers 

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