The Aeneid by Virgil

Aeneas Flees Burning Troy, by Federico Barocci (1598) (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

The Aeneid is the third part of the trilogy formed by the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. It was written by Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) when Augustus Caesar took over the Roman world after the assassination of his uncle and adoptive father, Julius Caesar, becoming the first Roman emperor. (Julius was not the first Roman emperor; he was a Roman dictator.) Augustus’ rule ended the various civil wars and brought forth the Pax Romana (the Roman Peace), the only time that there was peace in the Roman Empire. It was during the reign of Augustus that Jesus was born (Luke 2:1).

Virgil’s purpose of writing the Aeneid is to exalt the new empire and to give it a national hero. It tells the story of Aeneas, son of Venus (Aphrodite), as he was escaping the sack of Troy at the end of the Trojan War. He embarks on a journey similar to that of Odysseus until he arrives in Italy to establish the Roman people.

Being written in Latin instead of Greek, the Latin names of the Greek gods and goddess are used.

PART I: From Troy to Italy

Aeneas is the son of Venus and one of the greatest heroes of Troy, second only to Prince Hector himself. During the destruction of Troy by the Greeks, he was able to escape with his little son with the help of his mother, the goddess of love. He was able to escape together with many other Trojans and sailed away with them in order to find a new homeland.

Aeneas and his men traveled from place to place and faced many trials on land and sea in order to build a new city; but they were always driven away by bad omens. At one place, Aeneas noticed blood flow from the trees he cut. A voice from under the ground explained that these trees grew from the javelins that struck a Trojan man who was robbed and killed. At Delos, an oracle informed him that he should go to the land of his ancestors—which was interpreted as the island of Crete. At Crete, Aeneas was told by the household gods that the place destined for them lay west, in a peninsula called Italy.

The adventures of Aeneas. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Leaving the island of Crete, Aeneas and his men arrived at the island of the Harpies, fearful flying creatures with sharp talons and beaks—the “hounds of Zeus”. These foul creatures would leave a stench any food that was served, rendering it unfit for eating. The Trojans were driven away by these creatures.

A harpy. (Image courtesy of HellenicaWorld.Com)

Next, Aeneas and his men sailed to Epirus, where met Andromachē, widow of Hector. She had been given to Neoptolemus, son of Achilles and the one who killed King Priam, as a wife. But left her to be with Hermione, a daughter of Helen. But Neoptolemus died shortly; and Andromachē married Helenus, a Trojan prophet. They are now ruling the country which received Aeneas well. Before the Trojans left, Helenus warned them not to land on the east coast of Italy, which was swarming with Greeks. Instead they must land on the west coast; but they must not pass between Sicily and Italy, which is being guarded by Scylla and Charybdis.

The Trojans were rounding the southern coast island of Sicily. However, Helenus was not able to warn them that that coast is now occupied by Polyphemus and his fellow Cyclopes. Aeneas found a man there, very thin and ragged—a sailor who was inadvertently left behind at the cave of Polyphemus by Ulysses (Odysseus) and his men. He warned them that there were a hundred Cyclopes on the island and urged them to flee immediately. The Trojans were just cutting the cables that held their boats to shore when the blind Polyphemus came to shore to wash the cavity where his eye had been, still gushing with blood. He heard the splashing of the oars and tried chasing the Trojans, but they were already too far away.

As they were rounding island of Sicily, the Trojans were hit by a terrible storm. It was caused by Juno (Hera), queen of the gods, who hated the Trojans. She especially hated Aeneas because he is Venus’ son. Juno knew that Aeneas will eventually be the father of the people that will destroy Carthage in northern Africa, her favorite city. She went to Aeolus, viceroy of the winds, and promised to give him the loveliest nymph as his wife if he will unleash a storm upon Aeneas and his men. Aeneas frantically prayed for help; then Neptune (Poseidon), god of the sea, reprimanded Aeolus and commanded him to stop the storm. Aeneas and his men found themselves on the northern coast of Africa, near Carthage. Juno hatched a plan to hinder Aeneas from fulfilling his destiny. She knows that can never stop destiny; but only delay it.

Venus knew of this plan. She flew to Olympus to remind Jupiter (Zeus), her father, of his promise to always protect the remnants of the Trojan people. Giving her a kiss, Jupiter reminded her of the great destiny in store for her son Aeneas. Then Venus dispatched her son Cupid (Eros) on a mission to Carthage.

Venus rebukes Jupiter, by Abraham Jenssen. (Image courtesy of HellenicaWorld.Com)

Aeneas and his men found themselves away from Italy—on the northern coast of Africa, near Carthage. He and his friend Achates decided to explore the country. They killed seven stags with which they fed their men. Venus came in the disguise of a huntress and advised them to go to Carthage where the queen will help them. Venus covered them with a mist so that they were able to enter the city unnoticed until they arrived at a great temple. Aeneas noticed the brazen gate decorated with scenes from the Trojan War, including the death of Hector.

Suddenly the mist dispersed and there appeared Queen Dido, founder and ruler of Carthage, with a train of attendants. She welcomed Aeneas and his friend and held a banquet for them. Aeneas sent Achates back to the ships to fetch the men. As they were feasting, Aeneas told the queen of the Trojan War and their journeys until they reached her city. Dido was impressed with Aeneas’ heroism and eloquence, and with Cupid’s power, she finally fell in love.

Dido and Aeneas were very happy for a time. She was a widow and he lost his wife in the destruction of Troy. She commanded the people of Carthage to esteem Aeneas, a shipwrecked man, as herself. She lavished Aeneas with her generosity; she wanted nothing but his love. She would hold hunting parties for him and beg him to tell her his adventures over and over again.

Over time Aeneas had forgotten his destiny. He had grown so content with his life in Carthage that he no longer wanted to sail to Italy. Even Juno had grown complacent; but Venus that the time will come. And when the time finally came, Jupiter dispatched Mercury (Hermes), the messenger of the gods, to go to Aeneas. Mercury found Aeneas in the city, wearing fine clothes and with a sword studded with jasper on his side. Mercury spoke severely to Aeneas about his indolence. He told Aeneas that he was sent by the ruler of heaven that he must leave the place and fulfill his destiny in Italy.

Aeneas knew it would be very hard to leave Dido. He had his men secretly prepare their ships for immediate departure. Nevertheless Dido found out and pleaded in tears for Aeneas not to leave her. He answered the she had been always kind to him and that he will never forget her. But Dido could not stop Aeneas so she hid herself where no one can see her.

So Aeneas and the Trojans sailed away from Carthage. As they were leaving Aeneas saw a fire on the walls of Carthage. Little did he now that it was Dido’s funeral pyre. In her distress she committed suicide by throwing herself into the fire.

The suicide of Dido, sculpture by Claude-Augustine Cayot. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

PARTII: The Journey into the Underworld

Aeneas had been told by Helenus that as soon as he land in Italy that he must first find the Sibyl of Cumae, a woman of profound wisdom, who will tell him what to do. When he found her, the Sibyl told Aeneas that he must go to Hades in order to talk with his father Anchises, who will tell him what to do. Anchises was able to escape with Aeneas during the destruction of Troy, but he died after their encounter with Polyphemus and was buried in Sicily. After this, the terrible storm hit the Trojans.

The Cumaean Sibyl, by Guercino. (Image courtesy of MLahanas De)

First, the Sibyl told Aeneas, that he must find a golden bough growing on a tree in the forest and take it with him into the underworld. He and his friend Achates looked in the forest for the golden bough but in vain. Then they saw two pigeons, birds of Venus; and followed them to Lake Avernus, a foul-smelling lake where the cavern going to the underworld was. Aeneas followed the pigeons to a tree where the golden bough was. He broke it off and brought it back to the Sibyl; and together they went to the underworld.

The Sibyl slaughtered four coal-black bullocks to Hecatē, the goddess of night. Then they heard frightful sounds: the earth shook under their feet and they heard dogs in the distance. The Sibyl told Aeneas to take courage and led the way into the cave to the underworld. Around them they saw the fearful forms of Disease, Worry, War, Discord, and other curses to men. They came to a place where there were many ghosts, a plenty as leaves in a forest. The saw a river, which the Sibyl explained was the confluence of two rivers in the underworld: Cocytus, which means ‘loud lamentation’, Acheron. On the river was Charon, the boatman of the dead. He would take only some of ghosts across the river with him—only those who had a proper burial. Those who were not buried properly were doomed to roam without rest.

Aeneas with the Sibyl and Charon, by Giuseppe Maria Crespi. (Image courtesy of HellenicaWorld.Com)

Charon would not admit Aeneas and the Sibyl because they were not yet dead. But when Aeneas shown him the golden bough, he ferried them across. On the other bank was Cerberus; but the Sibyl was able to pacify the three-headed dog with a piece of cake. Then they saw the Minos, son of Europa (a woman who Jupiter fell in love with), the judge of the dead. The two founded themselves to the Fields of Mourning, where lovers who killed themselves dwelt. Aeneas saw Dido and realized that she was dead. He assured her that he did not leave her out of his own will. But Dido did not answer and went away.

Left to right: Rhadamanthus, Minos, and Aiaskos. (Image courtesy of MLahanas.De)

The two reached a crossroads. The Sibyl instructed Aeneas to fasten the bough on the wall facing the crossroads. To the left they can hear groaning, horrible blows, and the clanking of chains. The Sibyl explained that that place was ruled over by Rhadamanthus, another son of Europa, where the wicked were being punished for eternity. On the right were the Elysian Fields where Aeneas will find his father.

The Elysian Fields had soft green meadows, lovely groves of trees, delicious air, and sunlight that glowed softly of purple. It was a place of peace and happiness. There dwelt the good dead: heroes, poets, priests, and all those who helped others. Aeneas and Anchises had a joyful reunion. The father invited his son to drink from the Lethe, the river of forgetfulness. Whoever drinks from the Lethe would forget any painful memories. Anchises showed Aeneas their future descendants and told him of the great things they would do. Finally, his father gave Aeneas instructions on how to establish a new home in Italy and avoid or endure the hardship before him.

The Elysian Fields, or Elysium, by Arnold Bocklin. (Image courtesy of HellenicaWorld.Com)

Aeneas and Anchises bade farewell to another, knowing that someday they will be together again. The Sibyl led Aeneas back to the world of the living and Aeneas went back to his ships. The Trojans then sailed up the coast of Italy to look for their promised home.

PART III: The War in Italy

There was old man named Latinus, king of Latium, the grandson of Saturn (Cronus). He had a daughter named Lavinia. He was warned by the spirit of his father, Faunus, not to have her married to any man in the country. A stranger shall arrive and from their union shall come a race that will rule the world. So when Aeneas sent an embassy seeking a resting place and for air and water, Latinus knew that this was what his father was talking about. The king of Latium received the Trojans well and told Aeneas that he is the man destined to marry his daughter.

Aeneas and Ascanius arrive at Latium. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

This turn of events displeased Juno. So she sent for Alecto, one of the Furies, to spread war in Italy. She gladly obeyed. First, she had Queen Amata, wife of Latinus, oppose the marriage of Aeneas and her daughter Lavinia. She went to Turnus, king of the Rutulians, who was the most favored of the suitors for Lavinia’s hand. Hearing of the plan for Aeneas to marry Lavinia, he assembled his army and marched it to Latium.

One of the Furies, punishers of sinners. (Image courtesy of MLahanas.De)

Next Alecto framed Ascanius, with the murder of a beloved creature in Latium. There was in the kingdom a stag which was so tame that people would allow it to roam freely. It would go to the house of a Latin farmer where his daughter would feed it, comb its fur and put garland in its hair. Anyone who harmed the animal was punished severely. While Ascanius was hunting with his hounds, Alecto showed him where the stag was lying. The son of Aeneas shot the stag with an arrow, mortally wounding it. The wounded creature was able to stagger back into the house of the farmer where it died. The Fury spread the news and soon the farmers of Latium were determined to punish Ascanius and the Trojans.

The news reached the city of Latium just as the Rutulian army arrived. It was too much for Latinus to bear. He would not allow Aeneas to help him for fear of Queen Amata’s wrath. He shut himself in his room.

The Latins had a practice that before going to war, the king would open the door of the temple of Janus, the god of beginnings and endings. However, since the king was unavailable, the people did not know what to do. But Hera herself struck the doors with her own hand, breaking the bars of the doors. The people rejoiced that now they can go to war against the Trojans.

The Latins and the Rutulians fought against the little band of Trojans. The Rutulians were under the command of their king, Turnus. With him was another skilled soldier, Mezenius, king of Etruria. But Mezenius was so cruel to his subjects that they rebelled against him and allied themselves with Turnus. Also with them was Camilla, a warrior woman who was proficient with the javelin and the two-edged axe. She was raised by her father in a remote wilderness where she learned to shoot birds with a sling or bow and could run as fast as a bird can fly. With Camilla were many warriors and a number of warrior maidens.

In this dire situation, Father Tiber, the god of the river where the Trojans were encamped, advised Aeneas to go upriver and seek Evander, the king of a poor little town. Upon this poor little town, the Eternal City of Rome would rise. Aeneas sailed with a few armed men up the river. Evander and his son Pallas welcomed Aeneas well and took him to a shabby building that served as his palace. He pointed out to him the great Tarpeian rock (where one day a prison would be built); then nearby a hill now filled with brambles which is sacred to Jupiter (where one day the Capitol, meeting house of the Roman Senate, will rise); and a meadow where there were cows (where someday the Roman Forum would be, where the Roman people would meet and pass laws).

Evander told Aeneas that long ago the place was inhabited by fauns and nymphs and a savage race of men. Then Saturn came, seeking refuge from his son Jupiter. Men forsook their lawless ways and Saturn ruled over them in a Golden Age. But soon men returned to their former ways: they became greedy for gold and eager for war. Tyrants ruled the land until he, Evander, was brought by fate to that place from his home in Arcadia, Greece.

The King brought Aeneas and his men to a simple hut where he lived. Aeneas slept on a bed of leaves with a bear skin was his blanket. After breakfast on the next day Evander gave him advice on how to fight the Latins and the Rutulians. His kingdom of new Arcady was weak and cannot help them. But across the river were the Etruscans, a rich and powerful people. These were the people who rebelled against Mezenius. If he showed himself to the Etruscans, they will ally themselves to him in the war. Evander sent with him his son Pallas and several youths—the flower of Arcadia. He also gave each Trojan with steeds to ride into the kingdom of Etruria.

Meanwhile at the Trojan camp, fortified only by earthworks, the Trojans fought a gallant defense against the two armies, despite not having their leader and best warriors with them. They were under orders not to go on the offensive until their leader returns. Two Trojans—the experienced soldier Nisus and the young but brave Euryalus—thought of a plan to break the enemy offense. The Trojan council approved their plan. They stole away at night and crawled into an enemy trench. Stealthily they killed the sleeping soldiers one by one until they reached the end of the trench. However, by the time they reached the end of the trench, the sun had already risen. A Latin cavalry troop saw the shining helmet of Euryalus and challenged him to a fight. Nisus and Euryalus were separated in a small wood of trees. Nisus, seeing the younger one missing, started felling the enemy soldiers one by one with his spear. The leader of the troop was about to strike Euryalus when Nisus begged him to kill him instead. The Latin soldier killed Euryalus and Nisus cut down the man who killed him. He was then shot with many arrows until he fell dead beside his young friend.

Finally, Aeneas arrived with a huge army of Etruscans in time to save the Trojan camp. A furious war ensued. Battle followed battle; men slaughtered each other. Countless heroes died and rivers of blood flowed on the earth. The air was filled with innumerable arrows and the hoofs of warhorses. Horror piled on top of horror. Camilla is killed; Mezenius was also killed only after his son tried to defend him. Many allied also died; like Prince Pallas who was killed in battle.

At last, Aeneas and Turnus were able to face each other in single combat. By this time, Aeneas was as powerful as mountains, as strong as a monster with a hundred arms and fifty heads. Against him Turnus was helpless, as a man who fights against lightning or earthquake. Turnus attempts to hit Aeneas with a huge rock but Aeneas hurls a spear at his leg. The king of the Rutulians begs for his life but when Aeneas saw him wearing the belt of Pallas, he killed him in a rage.

Aeneas and Turnus, by Luca Giordano. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Aeneas went on to marry Lavinia, daughter of Latinus, and their son would go on to build the city of Alba Longa. Three hundred years after the death of Aeneas, one of his descendants, the Vestal Ilia, would have twins by Mars (Ares), the god of war. These twins, named Romulus and Remus, would be born in the Alba Longa. They would be raised by a she-wolf. Romulus would go on to found the city of Rome, out of which grew an empire that would rule the world.

A scupture of the she-wolf nursing the babies Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. (Image courtesy of the New York Times)

A model of ancient Rome. Note the Colosseum on the lower right  and the Circus Maximus on the lower left. (Image courtesy of  Gotterdamerung.Org)

Modern-day Rome, with the Colosseum still standing.

 

R E F E R E N C E S

 "Aeneas". Hellenica World. Accessed: August 20, 2013. URL: http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Mythology/en/Aeneas.html.

Lahanas, M. "The book of the epic: The Aeneid". MLahanas.De. Accessed: August 20, 2013. URL: www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/AeneidContent.html

"Aeneid." Wikipedia. Accessed: August 14, 2013. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeneid.

Hamilton, E. (1942). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and goddess. NY: Grand Central Publishing.