Aeneas Flashcards
Pious
Most used adjective to describe him
“a man famous for his piety”
Pious Aeneas
often sacrifices to gods, prays, visits temples
places obligations above own feelings or desires
-> wishes he had died defending Troy but still continues on with fate
-> Dido’s love tempts him to stay but he doesn’t
-> determined to continue to Rome
Devotion to Pallas
obeys gods
carries Anchises on his back with the household gods on his way to fulfil his destiny in Rome (3 major componants of piety displayed)
- loyalty to family, gods and homeland
Pious Aeneas quotes
“I am Aeneas, known for my devotion”
“dutiful Aeneas”
“devout Aeneas”
“he prayed”
“made a sacrifice together”
How is Aeneas’ piety used by Virgil?
to make you forget about his faults
Aeneas = propaganda about Augustus who restored temples, settled peace in Rome etc. so Aeneas being heroic and pious makes people see Augustus in a good light
-> piety was a significant value to him
Aeneas as impious
not perfect
- dark side to total piety
- or a result of modern reception of piety and lack of understanding of how a classical audience would view piety
-murders Turnus who -begs for mercy
-sneakily leaves Dido
-departs from gate of false dreams
-BOOK 10
How is Aeneas ‘father Aeneas’?
- father to Ascanius
-father to Rome - father to Pallas
Aeneas as father to Ascanius
safeguards his family through all the dangers and destruction of war
-holds the hand of his son as he flees Troy
- a good father gladly and willingly protects and defends his family
everything A does is for the future of his son and generation of his future lineage
- Mercury’s speech makes him leave Carthage even though he might not want to because he has to for Iulus’ future destiny in Rome
kisses Iulus before battle
A goes from being son of Anchises to father of Iulus
paternal relationship teaches him to fight
father-son rel. propels plot forwards
by setting a good example for your son, you are allowing the past to continue to the future
best example of a father to Iulus
Aeneas as father to Pallas
Pallas = like Aeneas’ adoptove son
-> furor within Aenas when Pallas dies
Aeneas as the father of Rome
Aeneas is the embodiment of Roman virtues:
- dutiful servant
- best father example for Iulus
Book 6 Underworld:
- procession of all the people who are to come in the future once Aeneas becomes the father of Rome
The Aeneid is all about Aeneas’ adventure to Rome
Shield in Bk 8 - all about the destiny/future Aeneas is the father of
Father of the Roman race
-> Bk 8 Romulus = descendent of Aeneas who founded Rome
Aeneas as a partner to Dido (positive)
Feels deep sadness when Dido is in the Underworld -> loved her, cared
“he wept and spoke sweet words of love to her” (BK6)
Aeneas likes how fair and just Dido is to her people
- allows him to be a loving and intimate partner (cave) as they both share many characteristics
Aeneas as a partner to Dido (negative)
Aeneas cannot fulfil Dido like S “answered he grief with grief and her love with love”
they cannot be together due to Aeneas’ fate - his destiny forbade him from being a partner
Aeneas tries to leave Carthage w/o telling Dido
never actually marries Dido but believes they have - breaks her heart
Roman audience would condem Aeneas even loving Dido (Queen of Carthage) -> Aeneas = right to leave
Aeneas a partner to Cruesa
afraid for Anchises and Iulus in battle but not for Cruesa
goes looking for C when she dies
“grief-stricken, I called her name”
“i never saw her again”
“my wife can follow in my footsteps at a distance” - status
” we were both holding Iulus”
“i stormed and raged and blamed every god and man that ever was. This was the cruelest thing”
Aeneas as a son of Anchises (quotes)
“there came into my mind the image of my own dear father”
“do you think I could run away and leave my father here?”
“I shall take you on my shoulder. Your weight will be nothing to me”
“so anxious was I, so afraid both for the man I carried and for the child at my side”
“i lifted up my father and set out for the mountains”
“I pray I will be allowed to go and look upon the face of my dear father”
“when he saw Aeneas coming towards him over the grass, he stretched out both his hands in eager welcome”
t
Aeneas as the son of Anchieses
Aeneas learns from his father - transfer of culture, knowledge and power to Rome
the Romans saw being kind to your father as a form of piety - Aeneas being pious and helping father
=> by being dutiful to your father, you are presenting the past and honouring the source of your own existence
Aeneid focuses on the political world of V (conservative, male-dominated society)
father-son rel. is the most imp. rel. in the Aeneid
How is Aeneas a filial son?
instead of thinking of his own self-defense, Aeneas leaves the city carrying Anchises on his back
deeply respectful of his father and is devoted to his son
