Although recognized as being roman, Virgil was not actually born in Rome. He was born in Andes, a village in Mantua, Italy in the year 70 BCE. This area was in what is still called Cisalpine, Gaul. The origin of the names 'Vergilius' and 'Maro' can be traced back to Etruscan ancestry. According to a respected biography of Virgil, he was born to family of farmers with his father, Maro, working as a day …show more content…
Written around 29 BCE; the Georgics consists of four books, and is not considered to be a pastoral poem or a narrative. Maecenas wanted him to write about agriculture, and this poem was written in response to his request. Pointed out by Jasper Griffin, “Virgil refers to the Georgics as 'your exacting command, Maecenas' ('tua, Maecenas, haud mollia iussa', 3. 41).” Just as the Romans often did, Virgil drew inspiration from previous Greek authors. The biography of Virgil observes, “The Georgics’ epilogue repeatedly echoes both Homeric epics, and the De Re Rustica, a contemporary treatise on agriculture.” The biography points out, when Virgil composed these poems, it was a difficult time for agriculture in Italy. detailing the difficulties and rewards of agriculture, Virgil hoped to make heroes out of Italy's