Virgil: Life, Works, and Legacy of Rome’s Greatest Poet. Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), born in 70 BCE in Cisalpine Gaul (modern-day Mantua, Italy), is regarded as one of the greatest poets in ancient Roman literature. His life spanned a time of great transformation in Rome, transitioning from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire.Virgil’s literary works, especially the Aeneid, not only …

