description Vergilius Romanus Overview
The Vergilius Romanus is an illuminated manuscript of works by the Roman poet Virgil, produced during late antiquity and now preserved in the Vatican Library. Written in Latin in rustic capitals, it contains portions of the Aeneid, Georgics, and Eclogues. Its surviving full-page miniatures depict narrative scenes in a late Roman pictorial style, making the codex an important source for the history of ancient book illustration.
help Vergilius Romanus FAQ
Which works by Virgil survive in the Vergilius Romanus?
The manuscript preserves portions of the Aeneid, Georgics, and Eclogues in Latin. It is not a complete modern edition because leaves and passages have been lost over its long history.
Where is the Vergilius Romanus kept?
It is preserved in the Vatican Apostolic Library under the shelfmark Vaticanus Latinus 3867. The codex is one of the small number of surviving illustrated literary manuscripts from late antiquity.
How old is the Vergilius Romanus?
Scholars generally date it to around the fifth century CE, although its exact place of production remains debated. Its Latin text is written in rustic capitals, a formal script associated with deluxe books.
Is the Vergilius Romanus the same manuscript as the Vergilius Vaticanus?
No. The Vergilius Romanus is Vaticanus Latinus 3867, while the Vergilius Vaticanus is Vaticanus Latinus 3225 and is usually considered somewhat earlier.
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