Virgil as a Necromancer

The story of Virgil as a necromancer is one of the most curious examples of the strange growth of Mediaeval legend, and it shows us the estimate placed upon science and learning during the Middle Ages.

The great poet Virgil was born near Mantua, October 15th, 70 B.C., and died on his way home from a visit to Greece, in company with the Emperor Augustus, at Brundusium, 19 B.C. By his own request, his body was taken to Naples for burial, and there his tomb may still be visited, about two miles west of Naples, on the side of a hill, near the Grotto Posilipo. It is now so covered with ivy that the site is nearly concealed. It may be approached by stone steps cut in the side of the cliff, or by steep steps from the left side of the entrance to the Grotto. The tomb is in the form of a Roman Columbarium, consisting of a chamber about 15 feet square with a vaulted roof. In the wall are ten niches for cinerary urns and a doorway. This tomb is interesting, if for no other reason, from its distinguished visitors. Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Voltaire, etc. A well-known legend commemorates the visit of St. Paul to the sepulchre of Virgil at Naples. Early in the 16th century the urn containing the ashes of the poet stood in the centre of the chamber supported on nine small marble columns. Some say Robert of Anjou removed it for security to the castle of Novo, others that it was given by the Government to a cardinal from Mantua, who died on his way home, at Genoa; in any event, the urn is now lost.

It is with Naples that the name of the poet is most intimately connected, for there he was educated, and there he wrote his best work; and there, as early as the 12th century, numerous stories were related of his wonderful exploits as a necromancer. In the 15th century many of these marvelous stories were collected and formed into what was called a life of Virgil. It was first printed in France and afterwards in England. It is full of adventures, and illustrates curiously the state of intelligence in the Middle Ages. Virgil, called Virgillius, is said to have founded the city of Naples upon eggs, as a charm for its protection. On one occasion he set up a brazen fly on one of the gates of the city, which remained there eight years, during which time no flies could enter the city; he relieved Naples of a plague of infectious leeches; he built baths which cured all disorders; he surrounded his home and gardens with a stream of air, which served for a wall; he constructed a bridge of brass, which took him wherever he wanted to go. When the emperor began to be troubled with rebellious provinces, he constructed a marvelous group of statues, one representing Rome, the others each allotted to a country or province, and each of these turned its back on the statue of Rome and rang a bell when the province it represented was on the point of rebellion. Thus the emperor being informed of the revolt was always ready to quell it before it got headway. The group received the name, Salvatio Romae-the safeguard of Rome. The story of Virgil as a necromancer probably arose from the fact that he was sent, when a child, to a school in Toledo, where people were supposed to learn magic in the Middle Ages.