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Why should you read Virgil's "Aeneid"? - Mark Robinson

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In 19 BC, the Roman poet Virgil suffered heatstroke and died on his journey back to Italy. On his deathbed, he thought about the manuscript he had been working on for over ten years, an epic poem called the "Aeneid." Unsatisfied with the final edit, he asked his friends to burn it. But they refused, and soon after Virgil’s death, Augustus ordered it to be published. Why? Mark Robinson explains.

Who was the Roman emperor when Virgil was writing the "Aeneid"?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Mark Robinson
  • Director Jeremiah Dickey
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Adrian Dannatt

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