1. The Aeneid: Roman Epic

2. The Aeneid Author: Virgil Culture: Roman Time: 70-19 BC
Genre: epic poetry
Characters to Know: Aeneas, Dido,
Anchises, Venus, Neptune, Juno, Jupiter
Basic Themes: Good overcoming Evil, Coming of Age, Accepting Responsibility, Duty before Desire

3. Why the Aeneid?
The emperor Augustus told Virgil to write a national epic as part of his propaganda program, to celebrate the new golden age of peace that Augustus’ reign ushered in following Rome’s civil wars, and the death of the Republic.

4. Narrative Structure Books 1-6: The Odyssean part
Aeneas as a wandering hero like Odysseus. His god-sent mission is to found a new city. Essentially, once the Greeks sack Troy, Aeneas and some Trojan ships escape to establish a ‘new’ Troy.
Books 7-12: The Iliadic part
Aeneas and the Trojans at war with the Italians & their allies.

5. Why is The Aeneid an EPIC?
Aeneas embodies the values of Roman society.
Aeneas is a larger-than-life character.
Written in Poetic Language.
Written in Elevated Language.

6. The Roman Hero: Aeneas
QUALITIES ADMIRED BY ROME AND EMBODIED BY AENEAS:
Stoic- not given to emotional swings.
Pious- Gives deference and respect to the gods.
Duty Driven- pursues his duty to his own detriment.
Unselfish- puts his own desires after those of his society

7. Book I: Aeneas in Carthage
In this book, we learn why Aeneas suffers - the wrath of Juno.
Two reasons:
Troy (Judgment of Paris, a past event: Paris didn’t pick Juno/Hera as the loveliest goddess, he chose Venus)
Carthage (she knew Rome would conquer this, her favorite city, a future event)

8. The Wrath of Juno
Following the Trojan War an angry goddess Juno asks Aeolus [master of wind] to drive the Trojan ships off course, shipwreck them if possible.
The bribe: she offers Aeolus the lovely nymph Deiopeia
Result: one ship wrecks before Neptune calms the sea.

9. Arrival in Libya
Aeneas puts into shore with only 7 ships from his fleet.
He gives a pep talk to his men, recalling the horrors they have already survived (Scylla, land of the Cyclopes, etc.)

10. Venus’ Appeal & Jupiter’s Prophecy
While the Trojans recover onshore, Aeneas’ mother Venus approaches her father Jupiter on behalf of her son
Jupiter had promised that Aeneas would successfully found a new city [Rome].
Jupiter’s promise: “For these I set no limits, world or time, but make the gift of empire without end . . Lords of the world, the toga-wearing Romans”

11. Dido and the Carthaginians
Jupiter sends Mercury down to make Dido and her people receptive to the Trojans.
Meanwhile, Aeneas encounters his disguised mother, who tells him Dido’s history [Dido has sworn never to love or marry since the death of her husband].
Venus also makes Aeneas very attractive to Dido.

12. The Temple of Juno
Hidden in a cloud, Aeneas goes into Carthage. He sees the temple of Juno, its walls painted with scenes from the Trojan War.
We know from this that the Carthaginians are civilized; the Carthaginians are very sympathetic to the events his city Troy suffered.

13. Dido Assaulted by Eros
While Venus & Cupid infect Dido with Eros for Aeneas, Aeneas tells her and the Carthaginians about the Fall of Troy and his wanderings.

14. Book II
The Fall of Troy from the Trojan POV. The ghost of Hektor, the gods fighting, death of Creusa (Aeneas’ Wife).

15. Book III
Aeneas’ wanderings, from Thrace, Crete, Sicily, to Carthage

16. Two Mythic Traditions
Greek: The Trojan War in 1250 BCE.
Roman: Romulus and Remus, suckled by the she-wolf, founded Rome in 753 BCE.

17. Book IV: Dido/Cleopatra
This book troubles many modern readers, since it seems to portray Aeneas in a bad light.
May represent Cleopatra and Ceasar/Mark Antony
Book focuses on the destructive and uncontrollable nature of love [against stoicism]
Women are manipulative creatures in love
Great persons can be brought low

18. DISTRIBUTE HANDOUT
READ THE TEXT and ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON YOUR OWN PAPER. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE SUMMARY PORTIONS IN ITALICS.

19. Book V & VI: Sicily The Underworld
Return to Sicily to honor A’s father
Like Odysseus before him, A goes to the underworld; his mission is to speak with his father.
His guide: the Sibyl, a female prophet.
The geography of Hades [right Elysium left Tartarus & water of Lethe]
Prophecy of the greatness of Rome.

20. Aeneas Meets . . .
Dido, who treats him much as Ajax treated Odysseus [ignores him]
Trojan War dead (just as Odysseus does)
Mythical monsters, old-time gods (the Furies, the Titans), famous sinners (Ixion, etc)
Anchises gives Aeneas a tour of the souls not yet born - the great heroes of Roman history from Romulus to Julius Caesar to Augustus.

21. Book VII and VIII: Travel & Evander
Aenas sails near Circe’s island, Neptune pushes them to safety. Juno is angered.
Aeneas makes a pact with King Latinus of the Latins, to marry his daughter to Lavinia, who is already engaged to Turnus. In Book 7, war broke out between the Trojans and the Latins over this broken engagement.
In Book 8, Aeneas sails up the Tiber to get allies. He meets Evander, a Greek king, whose kingdom is on the future site of Rome.

22. Books IX-XI : War with Turnus
Book 9 – Juno warns Turnus that Evander is A’s ally. Fighting breaks out – Turnus lives.
Book 10 – Jove/Jupiter angry the Trojans not peaceful in Italy as he promised. Venus pleads for her son’s rights. Juno pleads they have no rights.
Fighting continues on Earth – Juno saves Turnus.
Book 11 – Aeneas wants peace – says he will fight Turnus in single combat – Turnus continues the general fighting.

23. Book XII: Death of Turnus
Juno strikes a deal with Jupiter [Trojans will lose their name: become Latins].
Turnus finally faces Aeneas
When he has been wounded, Turnus makes an appeal to Aeneas for mercy, he receives none as Turnus gave none