aeneid characters Flashcards
Aeneas
Main protagonist:
- son of venus
- leader of the Trojans that survived the fall of Troy
- defining characteristic is his piety
- motivates his men but also shows sorrow and great compassion
Dido
“Lover” of Aeneas:
- queen of Carthage in Africa (now Tunisia)
- left Tyre when her husband was murdered by her brother Pygmalion
- becomes a pawn of the gods in their struggle for Aeneas’ destiny
- her love for Aeneas becomes her downfall, after he leaves she kills herself with his sword upon a Pyre
Turnus
Ruler of the Rutlians in Italy:
- Aeneas’ major antagonist among the mortals
- Lavinia’s leading suitor before Aeneas arrives
- Wages war against the Trojans despite Latinus’ willingness to allow them to settle
- soldier who values honour over his life
Ascanius
Aeneas’ son:
- Born to Creusa
- most important as a symbol of Aeneas’ destiny, his future founding of the Roman race
- despite being a child he displays his bravery and leadership
- leads a procession of boys on horseback during the games of Book 5
- helps to defend the Trojan camp from Turnus’s attack while his father is away.
Anchises
Aeneas’ father:
- symbol of Aeneas’ Trojan heritage
- although he dies he continues in spirit to help his son fulfill fates decree
- guides Aeneas through the underworld and shows him the fate of his descendants
Creusa
Dies in the fall of Troy but tells Aeneas that he will marry and italian woman
Sinon
The greek soldier who pretends to have been left by the Greeks, convinces the Trojans to take in the trojan horse
Latinus
leader of the Latins:
- allows Aeneas to become a suitor for his daughter Lavinia which causes conflict and eventually war among his people
- respects the gods and fate but does not have strict command over his people
Lavinia
daughter of Latinus and symbol of Latium:
- her character is not developed in the poem and instead she remains the object of Trojan-Latin struggle
- question of who will marry her between Aeneas and Turnus
- becomes key to the future relations between Trojans and Latins and therefore a part of Aeneids entire historical scheme
Amata
Queen of Latium:
- opposes the marriage between Aeneas and her daughter, remaining loyal to Turnus
- kills herself once it is clear that Aeneas will win
Evander
king of Pallanteum and father of Pallas. sworn enemy of the Latins and Aeneas befriends him and secures his assistance in the battles against Turnus.
Pallas
Son of Evander whom Evander entrusts Aeneas’ care and tutelage
eventually dies in the battle against Turnus causing Evander and Aeneas grief- causing Aeneas to slay Turnus despite his initial impulse to spare him
Drances
Latin leader who wants to end the trojan-latin war. questions Turnus’ motives in front of the Latina council and infuriates Turnus
Camilla
Leader of the Volscians: perhaps the only strong mortal woman in the poem
Juturna
Turnus’ sister:
Juno provokes her into inducing a full scale battle by disguising herself as an officer and goading the latins after a treaty had already been reached
Achates
A Trojan and Aeneas’ friend
laocoon
stuck spear into the Trojan horse when told it was a gift from Athena. His sons are attacked by giant serpents sent by the Gods when he argues against bringing in the Trojan horse
Juno
Queen of the Gods:
Hates Trojans because Paris’ judgement against her in a beauty contest of the Goddesses.
Patron of Carthage but knows that Aeneas’ Roman descendants are destined to destroy Carthage so takes her anger out on Aeneas- acting as his primary divine protagonist
Venus
Goddess of Love and the mother of Aeneas:
Venus is a benefactor of the Trojans. She helps Aeneas when Juno tries to hurt him causing conflict among the Gods
