Overview
This lecture recounts the mythic adventures of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, as he flees the fall of Troy and undertakes a journey to found a new civilization in Italy, leading to the origins of Rome.
The Fall of Troy and Aeneas's Escape
- After Hector's death, Aeneas is given command of the Trojans.
- Greeks deceive Trojans with the wooden horse, leading to Troy's destruction.
- Aeneas is told by Hector's spirit to preserve Trojan traditions and flee with sacred objects.
- Aeneas escapes Troy with his father Anchises, son Ascanius, and loses his wife Creusa.
Journey and Divine Ordeals
- Aeneas leads Trojan survivors, guided by prophecies to find a new home.
- In Thrace, he is warned by a ghost to leave.
- At Delos, an oracle instructs them to seek their ancestral land, first thought to be Crete.
- In Crete, a plague forces them to leave; gods clarify Italy (Hesperia) is their destined land.
- On the way, they face monsters (harpies, Charybdis, Scylla), and the death of Anchises.
Arrival in Carthage and Dido
- Aeneas lands in Libya, welcomed by Queen Dido of Carthage.
- Venus, Aeneas’s mother, ensures Dido falls in love with him.
- Aeneas and Dido have a love affair, but gods command Aeneas to leave for Italy.
- Dido, heartbroken, curses Aeneas and Carthage before dying.
Arrival and Settlement in Italy
- Aeneas finally reaches Italy; Trojans fulfill a prophecy by "eating their tables" (bread).
- King Latinus, following prophecy, offers his daughter Lavinia to Aeneas.
- Juno and the Fury Allecto incite war between the incoming Trojans and local Italians led by Turnus.
War with the Latins and Victory
- Aeneas gains allies among Etruscans and King Evander.
- Divine-made armor is given to Aeneas.
- Turnus leads the Latins and allies in a fierce war.
- Significant heroes fall, including Turnus’s ally Camilla and King Evander’s son Pallas.
- Jupiter forbids further divine interference, leaving the outcome to mortal actions.
Duel and Founding Legacy
- Aeneas defeats Turnus in single combat, initially hesitating but ultimately killing him after seeing Pallas’s belt.
- Aeneas marries Lavinia, founding the Roman lineage.
- His son Ascanius (Iulus) founds Alba Longa, precursor to Rome and the Julian dynasty.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Aeneas — Trojan hero and son of Venus, destined founder of Roman people.
- Anchises — Aeneas’s father, symbol of Trojan tradition.
- Ascanius/Iulus — Aeneas’s son, ancestor of the Julian line.
- Dido — Queen of Carthage, Aeneas's lover who curses his descendants.
- Juno — Queen of the gods, hostile to Trojans.
- Turnus — Italian prince and main opponent of Aeneas.
- Lavinia — Daughter of King Latinus, symbolic union of Trojans and Italians.
- Alba Longa — City founded by Ascanius, mother city of Rome.
- Julian Dynasty — Roman lineage traced back to Aeneas and Ascanius.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the journey and key events for major themes (duty, fate, divine intervention).
- Read the Aeneid (Book I-VI for journey, Book VII-XII for war in Italy) for deeper details on the myth.