Divine Political Allegory Flashcards
Homeric Allergory
Augustan school of thought which interprets the Iliad as a universal allegory about elemental forces
Neptune and political allegory
Neptune reimagined as an Orator calming a crowd
Parallel drawn with Augustus - but Neptune does not have total juristiction over his element - Juno is able to utilise it to her own ends - questioning authority of Augustus as the ability of absolute power to be influenced
limits of power
How is Venus conflated with Pietas (love of country, family etc.)
Other types of love not directly presented (Aeneas and Dido’s encounter in the cave is not addressed, Andromache and Hector is in the past)
Venus is mother of ‘pious aeneas’
References to pietas in book 1 appeal to Jupiter
Oratorical skill (use of indicatives in place of subjunctives to make argument more concrete- ‘clauditer’) -> more regimented, roman form of herself
Goddess who facilitates Aeneas the most directly
Appropriation of Erato in book 7 to represent pietas rather than erotic love poetry
Venus’ manipulation of Jupiter
Represents the power of pietas as a manipulative tool taking precedence over justice (jupiter)
pietas creating a ‘false consciousness’ in which roman public accept their subjugation
Aeneas’ unjust response to Dido and callous departure is facilitated by Mercury’s intervention which stresses his duty to future country and family
The burning of the ships by the Trojan women (all of the female characters are associated with chaos but in this instance it is their love of their old country which brings about the chaos - their patriotic pietas) - inhibits the path laid out by Jupiter (Justice)
The figure of Somnus and Palinurus
Palinurus is thrown into the sea by Somnus - he doesn’t fall (5.858-860)
Allusion to African sacrificial practices where the sacrificial parts are specifically hurled not dropped into the sea?
Palinurus is essentially abandoned by the usually helpful anthropomorphic gods -> unlike Odysseus who is saved in a similar situation
Somnus -> ignorance? or perhaps an embodiment of progress and the individual sacrifice which is required under the guise of progress
Two versions of Palinurus’ death -> one he is lulled to sleep the other is violent and 3 days long -> we are seduced by the nicer version
Juno as Chaos
Manipulation of Amata (Bacchante), utilisation of Allecto (poisoning) , allignment with Dido (doomed) -> all figure of fire, chaos and womenhood
Use of Iris to create chaos in book 5 by burning down the ships
Anthropromorphism of Vulcan
example of Homeric elemental allegories - in book 5 Vulcan both commands fire and literally is fire - same goes for jupiter and the rainstorm
Juno and Amata
Amata is a human manifestation of Juno’s rage - existing so Lavinia and Latinus might remain blameless for the conflict
Amata more strongly associated with Turnus than her daughter (parallels between Dido’s appeal to Aeneas and hers to Turnus - the suicide is also similar)
Amata leading Bacchic ritual rather than young girl - perversion of ritual. Relationship with Turnus = perversion of natural order
Interaction of Chaos and Justice
Restoration of marital order on Olympus bwtween Jupiter and Juno is true climax - Death of Turnus = political necessity
Jupiter is pleased bot by Juno’s eventual compliance but rather by the magnitude of her anger - asserting that she has proven herself Olympian
Juno’s chaos is little more than a misadventure - these gods are evil not by error but by intent
If Jupiter sanctions Juno and what she represents - what does this mean for Augustus (most closely alligned with Jupiter)
Dira are not a figure of justice - another figure of chaos sent to do Jupiter’s bidding and yet they are an ally to Aeneas (also alligned with Augustus)
Alliance between Pietas and Chaos
Venus and Juno collaborate in the match of Aeneas and Dido
In driving them together they also set into motion the destructive end which ultimately leads to Hannibal -> although he is defeated much is lost in the process -> when does the ends justify the means?
Venus and Neptune
Callous transaction between the two
Exemplifies how the manipulation of Pietas can lead to unnecessary human sacrifice amongst the innocent
Neptune allied with Aeneas in the Iliad, protecting him from Achilles - so why would he require this sacrifice -> meaningless in every sense of the word
