The “Aeneid” is an epic poem written by the Roman poet Virgil between 29 and 19 BCE. Commissioned by Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome, the poem was intended to serve both as a source of national pride and as a justification for the Julio-Claudian dynasty’s rule. The “Aeneid” is written in dactylic hexameter and is divided into twelve books.

Overview:

  • Books 1-6 (The Iliadic Half): Modeled after Homer’s “Odyssey,” these books describe Aeneas’s journey from Troy after its fall. Aeneas and his fellow Trojans encounter various challenges, including a storm sent by Juno (the queen of the gods who holds a grudge against the Trojans), a sojourn in Carthage where Aeneas falls in love with Queen Dido, and a visit to the Underworld.
  • Books 7-12 (The Odyssean Half): These books, reminiscent of the “Iliad,” detail the Trojans’ arrival in Italy and the subsequent war with the indigenous Latin tribes. The climax is the showdown between Aeneas and the Latin champion, Turnus.

Primary Themes:

  • Fate vs. Free Will: Aeneas’s destiny is predetermined; he is to found the city that will become Rome. However, throughout the poem, various forces (including the gods) try to deflect him from this path. Aeneas’s sense of duty and piety always guide him back.
  • War and Peace: While Aeneas seeks a peaceful home for his people, war is inevitable. The poem examines the costs of war, both on the victors and the vanquished.
  • Piety (Duty to Gods, Family, and Country): Aeneas embodies the Roman ideal of “pietas.” His loyalty and duty to the gods, his family, and his destined role as the founder of Rome drive the narrative.
  • The Founding of Rome: The “Aeneid” serves as a foundational myth for Rome, explaining its divine origins and connecting its history to the epic tales of the Greeks.

Significance:

  • The “Aeneid” had a profound influence on Western literature. Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” for instance, draws heavily from Virgil’s work, with Virgil himself serving as Dante’s guide through Hell and Purgatory.
  • The poem helped establish the cultural and mythological foundation for the Roman Empire, emphasizing virtues such as duty, sacrifice, and piety.

Controversy: The relationship between Aeneas and Dido, and her subsequent suicide when he leaves Carthage, has been a subject of much literary debate and interpretation. Some see it as a tragic love story, while others interpret it as a commentary on the inevitable clash between personal desire and public duty.

Summary:

The “Aeneid” is not just a tale of adventure and war. It’s a reflection of the Roman psyche, of its values, and of its vision of itself in relation to the world. It’s a rich, multifaceted work that has captivated readers for millennia and remains a cornerstone of Western literary tradition.