The ancient Roman writer Publius Vergilius Marco, known as Virgil, was born on October 15, 70 B.C.E., in Andes near Mantua. He was educated first in Cremona and Milan. He later continued his studies in rhetoric, medicine, and astronomy in Rome. As he found himself mainly interested in philosophy, and he openly expressed this by joining the Epicurean circle around Siron. Virgil was one of those Roman writers gathered by Maecenas at the court on the order of Octavian. During this fruitful time, he created his works "Bucolica" and "Georgica" (37 until 29 B.C.E.); these were dedicated to his patron Maecenas. After the title "Augustus" was bestowed upon Octavian by the Roman Senate, Virgil began work on an epic in praise of his rule. He started work on the "Aeneid." But before finishing the work, Virgil died on September 21, 19 B.C.E. while returning from a stay in Brundisium in Greece. Against the wishes of the recently posthumous author, the incomplete work was still published on the order of Augustus. He is regarded today as one of the most important writer of Roman Antiquity.