Homer vs Virgil
Who? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Homer Ancient Greece · 8th century BC 69% · #2 in the world
- Virgil Ancient Rome · 70–19 BC 31% · #35 in the world
What the votes say
A clear win: the world picks Homer over Virgil, 69% to 31%. Homer is #2 of the 110 writers in the world ranking, and #1 of the 4 from Ancient Greece. Virgil is #35, and #2 of the 3 from Ancient Rome.
The case for each
Homer: The Greek poet credited with the Iliad and the Odyssey, the oldest works of Western literature, composed around the 8th century BC; whether one person made both is still debated.
Virgil: Rome's national poet, who wrote the Aeneid under Augustus as Rome's answer to Homer, plus the Eclogues and the Georgics. Dante chose Virgil as the guide through Hell and Purgatory.
Side by side
| Homer | Virgil | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #2 | #35 |
| Country | Ancient Greece | Ancient Rome |
| Lived | 8th century BC | 70–19 BC |