Publius Vergilius Maro (October 15, 70 BC – September 21, 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period who is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues (or Bucolics), the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid.  Usually referred to as simply Virgil in the English-speaking world, he is considered one of Rome’s greatest poets. The Aeneid, a chronicle of the founding of Rome,served as its national epic since its publication. His work has had a profound influence on Western literature, best exemplified in Dante’s Divine Comedy, in which Virgil appears as Dante’s guide.