Aeneid Commentary of the Mixed Type

by Julian Ward Jones (Editor)

The Aeneid of Vergil, Rome's great epic, became a school text almost as soon as it was published in 19 BC. Schoolmasters quickly began to compose commentaries on it. The interpretations of many scholars of the Imperial period were eventually collected in the vast commentary of Servius (early fifth century AD). The notes of Servius explicate basic meaning and offer enlightenment on such matters as grammar, rhetoric, mythology, and historical and religious antiquities. In the Middle Ages, a new line of interpretation was created as exegetes allegorized the Aeneid in order to provide moral and ethical instruction and fit it to the new Christian context. This new tradition culminated in the commentary on the first six books of the Aeneid commonly attributed to Bernardus Silvestris (twelfth century).
In the early Renaissance, the imperial and medieval traditions were often juxtaposed in the same school commentary. The present edition offers for the first time in public print such a mixed commentary on Aeneid 6, the book many regard as the most profound and greatest of the twelve books of Vergil's poem. Also included here is a commentary on Aeneid 5 which follows the Servian model. The same scholar, who at the moment cannot be identified, has composed both. The greater part of his comment is derivative and will easily be recognized as such. Many notes, however, will appear new and different and thus have a special interest. They may not be original, but they thus far have not been published elsewhere.
In order to give a wider appeal to this edition, the editor has written a long English introduction, which summarizes, analyzes and evaluates the comment. Also included is a discussion of the Latin (grammar and vocabulary) of the commentary and the usual description and evaluation of the manuscripts.

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996