Italy, 1930, ‘Birth Bimillenary of Virgil’
enito Mussolini probably thrust out a fascist salute when someone in his propaganda ministry spotted that Virgil’s 2,000th anniversary would occur in 1930. Projects to pacify Libya, establish an Albanian protectorate, conquer Ethiopia, annex Albania, and, by other feats of arms around Europe and Africa, to recreate the former glories of Rome with himself as Emperor were progressing well. The anniversary would come at the right moment. Adolf Hitler, ally and fellow henchman across Italy’s northern border, had already boasted of establishing Germany’s 1,000-year Reich. Virgil,
