The Importance of Virgil’s Aeneid in St. Augustine’s City of God

Abstract

The article consists of two sections. The first shows the encyclopaedic use St. Augustine made of the Aeneid, the second, his personal attitude to Virgil. For the bishop of Hippo the Mantuan’s Aeneid was a historical source, a source of knowledge about pagan philosophy and religion, a source of literary language and an illustration of some Christian problems. Augustine had a great admiration for the poet’s art, but showed caution and reserve towards his outlook on the world.