Culture Analysis: Virgil

Culture Analysis Paper 3: Virgil

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Within the selected reading, there are quite a few major and minor characters, those most notable being : Juno (Mack 473), Aeneas (Mack 475), Venus (Mack 475), Jupiter (Mack 478), Ascanius (Mack 479), Dido (Mack 477), AchatÐ"«s (Mack 478), Ulysses (Mack 483), Minerva (Mack 490), LaocoÐ"¶n (Mack 490), Sinon (Mack 485), Hector (Mack 491), Pyrrhus (Mack 498), Priam (Mack 476), Anchises (Mack 504), Anna (Mack 508), Mercury (Mack 512), DeiphobÐ"« (Mack 529), Turnus (Mack 537) , Diomedes (Mack 477), Vulcan (Mack 536), Pallas (Mack 477), and Juturna (Mack 541) . Each lived within the time period of ancient Rome’s foundation, with the theme of the story centering on men and women who struggled intensely to build a mighty nation. As for the genre of the story, it is categorized as an epic poem, written in dactylic hexameter, which reads as a dramatic narrative.

In Book 1, Virgil, the author of the Aeneid, called upon the muse (goddess of poetry and inspiration) to aid him in telling the story of Aeneas (Mack 473-475). The epic began with the Trojan fleet sailing from Sicily, seven years after the fall of Troy. The goddess Juno goads the god of wind, Aeolus, to unleash a great storm on the travelers, causing their ships to wreck near the city of Carthage. Though the goddess Venus appealed to the god Jupiter for their lives, he assured her in prophecy of what would be their glorious future. Shortly thereafter, Venus, appearing to her son Aeneas disguised as a Carthaginian huntress, told him of Queen Dido and the settlers from Tyre who had formed the colony at Carthage, surrounded by potentially hostile peoples. Shrouded by a shield of invisibility by his mother, Aeneas and scouting party led by the visible Ilioneus observed the temple under construction. Upon making her acquaintance, Dido reassured and warmly welcomed Aeneas (after reappearing) and his fellow travelers to her budding nation. Meanwhile, Venus arranged for her son Cupid, to take the form of Aeneas' son Ascanius, so as to cause Aeneas and Dido to fall in love, thereby ensuring his safety. As the festivities progressed throughout the night, Dido became increasingly enamored with her guest of honor, Aeneas (Mack 473-482).

In Book 2, Aeneas recalled tale of the Trojan Horse and the fall of Troy at Dido's request. Aeneas told of a captured Greek named Sinon, who misleadingly informed the Trojans that the horse was intended to appease the goddess Minerva, following their attack on her temple. LaocoÐ"¶n, a priest who spears the horse in his zeal to prove its dubious intent, is summarily eaten by two serpents, along with his sons. Seeing this as a sign of anger by Minerva, the Trojans breached their wall and moved the ill-fated horse inside the city limits. When night came, the Greeks, having made it seem earlier as if they were departing, instead sailed back to the shore. Sinon then opened the horse's hatch, allowing the hidden Greek death squad within to spill out into the city. Meanwhile, a vision of the fallen warrior Hector appeared to Aeneas as he slept, warning him to flee the impending destruction of Troy, and to relocate the Trojans to a new land. With the palace under heavy attack, King Priam is brutally slaughtered by Pyrrhus, the son of the warrior, Achilles. While searching for his family, Aeneas happened upon a chance meeting with Helen; seeing her as the root of Troy's destruction, he wished to kill her outright, though Venus intervened in her favor, sparing her life. While evacuating his family from their pursuers, Anchises (Aeneas' father) refused to flee, but is persuaded by a divine portent appearing over the head of Ascanius, Aeneas' son. Taking that supernatural event as a sign from the gods, Aeneas and his family continued their flight from Troy. Though Aeneas' wife Creusus somehow became separated from the group and perished, her spirit came to him and foretold of his destiny as the progenitor of a great nation (Mack 483-508).

In Book 6, Aeneas sought out the sibyl DeiphobÐ"« at Apollo's temple. Upon reaching her, DeiphobÐ"« foretold of the impending war and the trials to come. Aeneas asked of her to help him see his father in the underworld to obtain guidance. After obtaining a golden bough to allow his entrance, proceeded into the abyss, witnessing horrible fiends and tortured souls. After Aeneas encountered several old friends and enemies as he ventured on, he discovered Dido, the woman he scorned in Carthage. Only able to offer her excuses for abandoning her, she turned away from him in disgust to instead find her former husband. Aeneas also met with Deiophobus, the Helen's third husband; it was then revealed how Helen actually betrayed Troy, leading to its fall. Aeneas also learned of Tartarus, a place of eternal suffering and punishment for those found guilty of foul depravities. Reaching the threshold of Elysium, the dwelling place of the righteous, Aeneas offered the golden bough to enter. After a seemingly long journey, he finally reached his father. While inquiring about the nature of Elysium, Aeneas learned that spirits long passed await reincarnation after drinking the waters of the river Lethe, which erases memories. Lastly, Anchises foretold of Rome's founders, its great rulers and its contributions to government. Instilled with confidence, Aeneas left the underworld and reemerged nearly ready to fulfill his destiny (Mack 529-536).

In Book 8, Aeneas finally received from Venus the great arms of Vulcan that would be necessary for victory against Turnus, the ruler of the Latins. The shield was of great significance, as its ornate designs foretold of future victories won by the very nation he was to create (Mack 536-541). The epic poem concludes in Book 12, as Turnus made preparations for war. At dawn, the Latins and Trojans gathered on the plain outside the city to face one another in combat. Juno plots with Turnus' sister Juturna (a sea-nymph) to spare him from death. Aeneas prayed and swore an oath that his victory would lead to peaceful coexistence and equality, and that if he was defeated, the Trojans would depart forever. After agreeing to the terms for the battle, Juturna intervened and lead the Latin forces into battle, instead of allowing the duel. Aeneas attempted to stop the fighting, but was instead wounded by a stray arrow. After hastily leaving the front, a healer was successful in treating the warrior's wound due to Venus' intervention. Returing to battle, Aeneas fought his way through enemy forces seeking out Turnus. Juturnus assumed form of Turnus' chariot driver, so as to keep her brother from harm. After slaying numerous foes, Aeneas considered the burning