Images of nature and environment in Latin poetry

Abstract

“The land was to the Romans the chief field of their industry and the original source of their wealth‟, so that in every of their endeavour, they strove to preserve, protect and stay close to Nature as much as possible. Evidence of this is most conspicuous in the works of poets such as Virgil, Ovid, Horace etc. And Virgil more than any other poet, presents that aspect of nature in the proper perception of the Romans.This paper seeks to highlight the aesthetics of nature and the environment as appreciated by both Roman poets and citizenry. This would show that even in antiquity there was awareness and concern for the environment, eventhough there were exceptions, as is the case today.

…the farmers of old, a sturdy folk. With simple wealth; when after harvesting the grain ;they sought relief at holiday time for the body as well as for the soul ;which bore its tails in hope of the end together with slaves and faithful wife ;partners of their labors ;used to propitiate. Earth with swine Silvanus with milk and ;with flowers and wine (Hor. Epist II 1 139-155)

The poet and satirist; Horatius Flaccus; here paints an image of the Roman ideal life style, that of the rustic country side, close to nature herself. Nature, and indeed the rustica, with its concomitant effect on man occupy a sizeable chunk of the subject matter or theme of Latin poetry/poets and other writers alike. This intense passion for nature, traverse the different literary genres.

As far back as history goes, we know that the ancients were always fascinated by nature. This fascination was what moulded the primitive fancies of Greek mythology into legend; poetry and art. Down the ages the satisfaction of this impulse has stimulated curiosity and the imaginative emotion which accompany it, giving birth to literature that expounded the phenomenon of nature, especially in the Homeric epic, Aratus, Callimachus. which eventually provided material for Roman writers such as Virgil in the Georgics; Ovid in the Metamorphosis among others.