Vergil's Georgics Chapter 1 Analysis

Commentary Assignment 1

Text 2: From Vergil’s Georgics B1 (A.S. Kline 2001 translation)
Vergil, a Roman author, wrote a number of textual sources during the Roman period; while other authors tended to focus on the myths themselves, Vergil wrote the Georgics to show the implementation of agriculture on the land and the challenges the people at that time faced.
The text begins with a peaceful chthonic time, before Jupiter’s (Zeus) time, until the ‘Father’ decides to test mankind, thus describing the creation of obstacles for men so that “thoughtful practice[s] might develop various skills.” The “Father” the reader would have to assume means Ouranos. Before the “Father” made his changes, farming was not used; this was also before the creation

BCE
Zeus is depicted in the image after birthing Dionysus from his thigh. Zeus carries a thyrsus (staff), and Dionysus carries a vine and a wine cup. Two goddesses are depicted in this image; Aphrodite (far left) holding flowers and Eileithyia (far right) The additional depictions of the goddesses in this image are different from the other visual sources, where only Hermes is present (Jan. 18). The depiction of Aphrodite at the birth is because she and Dionysus are both asexually birthed; Aphrodite was born out of sea foam. In the image, Eileithyia is praising or blessing the newborn god, as she is the goddess of childbirth.
After birthing Dionysus, the young god already has abilities; the image shows that Dionysus is able to influence people he is close to; Zeus’ animal pelts and sceptre. This image also represents the repetition of the past; similar to when Rhea gives Cronos a stone in disguise as a child, Zeus gives Hera a piece of the sky in disguise as Dionysus. Dionysus is known as the god of wine, emotional freedom, and ecstasy; patron of wine festivals. His image often incorporates his symbols; the grape vine and the actor’s mask, but the mask is not represented in this

BCE
This image shows Heracles and Apollo fighting over the Delphic Tripod while two goddesses, Athene and Artemis, watch them. Heracles (second from right) wears the lion skin he is often identified with and appears to be holding a club. Apollo (second from left) wears his bow and quiver of arrows over his shoulder. Athene (far right) wears a cloak of snakes and Artemis (far left) is accompanied with a quiver of arrows and crown. There are several sources for this story in the Anthology of Classical Myth. According to Apollodorus, this scene is located in Delphi when Heracles wished to find a way to end his disease of guilt (41). However, when the Pythia (Oracle of Delphi) refused to give him a prophesy Heracles tried to take the Delphic Oracle to establish his own oracle (41). Apollo is identified as the patron of the Delphic Oracle, so when Heracles tried to steal it, Apollo had to fight him, only to be separated by a thunderbolt from Zeus, who then provided Heracles with a prophesy (42). Apollo’s traits include healing and disease, so this battle may not be a coincidence considering Heracles diseased mind. According to Apollodorus, there is no mention of the goddesses depicted in the image. Artemis is likely only included in the image since she is Apollo’s twin sister and they are rarely separated during fights; they were also together when they murdered Niobe’s children. Athene (Athena) is depicted in the image because