Definition: Virgil's full name was Publius Vergilius Maro. He was a Roman poet who lived from October 15, 70 to September 21, 19 B.C. Virgil is believed to have been born in Cisalpine Gaul. He went to Rome for his education. There Virgil studied under an Epicurean philosopher, although he later exhibited Stoic sentiments. Virgil became part of the literary circle around Maecenas, a patron of the arts and minister of Octavian. He died of a fever at Brundisium.
Virgil's masterpiece is the Aeneid, started on 30 B.C. and still unfinished at his death, but he also wrote other major poems, the Eclogues (42-37 B.C.) and Georgics (37-30 B.C.), and smaller poems. Spurious works attributed to Virgil may be found in the Appendix Vergiliana.
Also Known As: Vergil, Vergilius
Examples:
Based on his actual name, Vergilius, Virgil should be called Vergil following the standard English practice of dropping the Latin ending. Virgil has a long tradition, but Vergil is common.