Primary sourceBook29-19 BCE
Aeneid, Book VI
Virgil · 29-19 BCE
The book of Virgil's Aeneid describing Aeneas's descent into the underworld and a vision of Rome's future heroes, ending with Marcellus.
This book shows Virgil's direct engagement with Roman history and his connection to Augustus's family through the figure of Marcellus.
About this source
What it is
Book VI of the Aeneid describes Aeneas's journey into the underworld, guided by the Sibyl of Cumae, where he sees a parade of souls who will become great figures in Rome's future. Virgil wrote this as part of his epic between 29 and 19 BC.
Why it matters
This book gives Virgil's clearest vision of Roman history as something fated by the gods, ending with a moving tribute to Marcellus, a young relative of Augustus who died young. It shows how closely Virgil's poetry was tied to the Augustan court and its losses.
Look closer
- Why might Virgil choose a journey to the underworld to show Rome's future?
- What does the inclusion of Marcellus suggest about Virgil's relationship with Augustus's family?
- What might be the effect of ending this vision on a note of mourning?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Virgil on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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