Vergil in Ethiopia?: Nello Martinelli’s <i>Amba Alagia</i>

Abstract

This chapter explores the Amba Alagia, a Latin hexameter poem written in 1941 by Nello Martinelli in response to Italy’s colonial campaigns in Ethiopia. Set against the historical backdrop of the battles at the Amba Alagi, the poem glorifies Italian military heroism while embedding imperialist, racist, and antisemitic ideologies. Through extensive intertextual engagement with Vergil’s Aeneid and Georgics, Martinelli recasts violent colonial conquest as a moral and civilizing mission. The chapter examines how Amba Alagia manipulates classical references to portray Fascist aggression as historical destiny and moral vindication. It also interrogates the implications of attributing poetic complexity to ideologically problematic texts. By analyzing Martinelli’s literary strategies, the chapter encourages critical reflection on scholarly habits of interpretation and the uncomfortable intersections between classical literature and fascist propaganda