#x98;The#x9C; epic distilled studies in the composition of the Aeneid

__The Epic Distilled__ is a rich exploration of Virgil's use of sources in the __Aeneid__, considering elements of history, geography, mythology, and ethnography. Building on and developing the research involved in the author's monumental commentaries on the __Aeneid__, the volume investigates how the poem was written, what Virgil read, and why particular details are interwoven into the narrative.The volume looks beyond the __Aeneid__'s poetry and plot to focus on the "matter" of the epic: details of color, material, arms, clothing, landscape, and physiology. Details which might seem trivial are revealed as carefully deliberate and highly significant. For instance, one Trojan's specifically oriental trousers are suggestive of the Trojans' non-Roman 'otherness' and fit solidly into a complex ethnographic argument.In this way, the meaning and implications of Virgil's heavily allusive style, including practices and techniques of composition, are unpicked meticulously. Particularly difficult and intricate passages are delved into and the significance of specific details, legends, arcane references, places, names, digressions, and inconsistencies are uncovered. By exposing new layers of illuminating material, __The Epic Distilled__ offers readers a fresh approach to understanding the full intellectual texture of Virgil's epic poem. The Epic Distilled is a rich exploration of Virgil's use of sources in the Aeneid , considering elements of history, geography, mythology, and ethnography. Building on and developing the research involved in the author's monumental commentaries on the Aeneid , the volume investigates how the poem was written, what Virgil read, and why particular details are interwoven into the narrative. The volume looks beyond the Aeneid 's poetry and plot to focus on the "matter" of the epic: details of color, material, arms, clothing, landscape, and physiology. Details which might seem trivial are revealed as carefully deliberate and highly significant. For instance, one Trojan's specifically oriental trousers are suggestive of the Trojans' non-Roman 'otherness' and fit solidly into a complex ethnographic argument. In this way, the meaning and implications of Virgil's heavily allusive style, including practices and techniques of composition, are unpicked meticulously. Particularly difficult and intricate passages are delved into and the significance of specific details, legends, arcane references, places, names, digressions, and inconsistencies are uncovered. By exposing new layers of illuminating material, The Epic Distilled offers readers a fresh approach to understanding the full intellectual texture of Virgil's epic poem. The Epic Distilled is a rich exploration of Virgil's use of sources in the Aeneid, considering elements of history, geography, mythology, and ethnography. Building on and developing the research involved in the author's monumental commentaries on the Aeneid, the volume investigates how the poem was written, what Virgil read, and why particular details are interwoven into the narrative. The volume looks beyond the Aeneid's poetry and plot to focus on the 'matter' of the epic: details of colour, material, arms, clothing, landscape, and physiology. Details which might seem trivial are revealed as carefully deliberate and highly significant. For instance, one Trojan's specifically oriental trousers are suggestive of the Trojans' non-Roman 'otherness' and fit solidly into a complex ethnographic argument. In this way, the meaning and implications of Virgil's heavily allusive style, including practices and techniques of composition, are unpicked meticulously. Particularly difficult and intricate passages are delved into and the significance of specific details, legends, arcane references, places, names, digressions, and inconsistencies are uncovered. By exposing new layers of illuminating material, The Epic Distilled offers readers a fresh approach to understanding the full intellectual texture of Virgil's epic poem. 'the Epic Distilled' Is A Rich Exploration Of Virgil's Use Of Sources In The 'aeneid', Considering Elements Of History, Geography, Mythology, And Ethnography, And Offering Readers A Fresh Approach To Understanding The Full Intellectual Texture Of Virgil's Epic Poem. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. To Peel The Artichoke -- 2. `ceaselessly Wrangling In The Bird-cage Of The Muses' -- 3. Doctus Et Lector -- 4. Erudition And Invention -- 5. Invention Of Myth -- 6. Inconsistencies -- 7. Signposts By The Wayside -- 8. So The Story Goes -- 9. Poet As Jackdaw, And The Role Of Anachronisms -- 10. Epic Of Many Voices. Nicholas Horsfall. Includes Bibliographical References (pages Xiii-xiv) And Index. Cover 1 The Epic Distilled: Studies in the Composition of the Aeneid 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Preface 8 Contents 12 Bibliography 14 1: To peel the artichoke 18 CH. 1; APPENDIX 1 28 CH. 1; APPENDIX 2 31 2: ‘Ceaselessly wrangling in the bird -cageof the Muses’ 34 CH. 2; APPENDIX 1 45 CH. 2; APPENDIX 2 47 3: Doctus et lector 48 4: Erudition and invention 62 5: The invention of myth 78 CH 5; APPENDIX 1 93 6: Inconsistencies 96 CONCLUSION 110 CH. 6; APPENDIX 1 111 7: Signposts by the wayside 112 8: So the story goes 128 9: The poet as jackdaw, and the role of anachronisms 152 CH. 9; APPENDIX 1 160 10: An epic of many voices 162 Index 174