ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ways. in which Servius reads Virgil’s underworld, to evaluate his understanding of its construction, and to consider how his interpretation made it relevant for his students studying the Aeneid. It focuses on very specifically on how Servius reads Virgil’s physical underworld and afterlife. Servius considers the location and position of the underworld to be something his students need to think about, and in particular, that they should be aware of the discussions surrounding the different possibilities. Servius’ concern with the literal and physical location of Virgil’s underworld in relation to the world of the living is also apparent when he feels the need to clarify the use of the word aether in Virgil’s verse. Servius’ commentary on Aeneid 6 is long, demonstrating its prominence in his understanding of the epic, and in his teaching, but also in response to the many complexities and potential contradictions which the text raises.
