Re: VIRGIL: teaching Aeneid in translation

[Trcara2001]

I agree whole heartedly with what you have written.  Primarily, I feel the first method on understanding any of the ancient narratives, if first to understand the nature of humanity.  That in itself is a huge undertaking; but rather to understand the social situations of ancient times first in general terms and then to delve slowly on the intricacies that made ancient society whether it be Greek or Roman what it was and why Virgil or for that fact even Homer embarked on using stories to capture the ancient minds.  Yes, I believe historically we as moderns have some idea of what happened; whether it be accurate or not.  But do we take these readings as being historically sound.  No even as the poems are read today they are not read for their historical accuracy, but for absolute pleasure and enrichment of the soul.  Toni