Carthaginians

Question 1

When is the city first mentioned?

Answer 1

after Virgil invokes the Muses and it is implied that it has a destabilising impact/ effect upon the Roman reader

Question 2

Queen of Carthage

Answer 2

Dido

very rich and lives life of absolute luxury

“palace”
“banquet”
“golden couch”
“embroided”

Romans not a fan of monarchy etc. so cont. audience have mixed views etc. of Dido (her and Aeneas = paired together but she is a queen)

Rome’s fiercest, deadliest and most implacable historical enemy

Question 3

Carthage and Juno

Answer 3

“ancient city” “its name was Carthage, and Juno is said to have loved it more than any other place”
- >Juno wants to help it and keep the people safe so sends the storm in Bk

Question 4

Aeneas and Carthage

Answer 4

Aeneas adopts Carthaginians culture (robe etc.)

-> unity between the two countries?

“rulers of a great empire would come to sack the land of Libya; this is the destiny the Fates were unrolling” - prophecy scares Juno

Question 5

Carthage and Cleopatra

Answer 5

Dido and Cleopatra = African queens

Carthage and Dido disliked by audience as Cleopatra only v. recently fought against Augustus - linked together

Question 6

Carthaginian quotes

Answer 6

“a city of great and ruthless in the pursuit of war”

“my own Tyrians are against me”
-> Dido stopped building the city so this happened
-> patriotic

Question 7

Contrast of Carthaginians with Dido

Answer 7

Private voice (Dido’s struggle) vs the glorification of the empire / Dido / Carthage
=> contrast gives a sad undertone