In the '' Aeneid'', Achates ( Ancient Greek: Ἀχάτης, "good, faithful Achates", ''fidus Achates'' as he was called) was a close friend of Aeneas; his name became a by-word for a very intimate companion.

Mythology

Achates accompanied Aeneas throughout his adventures, reaching Carthage with him in disguise when the pair were scouting the area, and leading him to the Sibyl of Cumae. Virgil represents him as remarkable for his fidelity, and a perennial type of that virtue. However, despite being Aeneas's most important Trojan, he is notable for his lack of character development. In fact, he has only four spoken lines in the entire epic. Aeneas, surrounded by only a shadowy cast of allies, is thus emphasised as the lone protagonist and at the same time cut off from help on his quest. Virgil, '' Aeneid''

Gallery

File:Dosso Dossi 001.jpg, Aeneas and Achates on the Libyan Coast by Giovanni Battista Luteri Dossi (circa 1520) File:Giacinto Gimignani - Venus Appearing to Aeneas and Achates - WGA08998.jpg, Venus Appearing to Aeneas and Achates by Giacinto Gimignani (1st half of 17th cen.) File:Venus as Huntress Appears to Aeneas.jpg, Venus as Huntress Appears to Aeneas by Pietro Da Cortona (1631)

Notes

References

* Publius Ovidius Naso, '' Fasti'' translated by James G. Frazer
Online version at the Topos Text Project.
* Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Fasti.'' Sir James George Frazer. London; Cambridge, MA. William Heinemann Ltd.; Harvard University Press. 1933
Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library
* Publius Vergilius Maro, '' Aeneid.'' Theodore C. Williams. trans. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1910
Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Publius Vergilius Maro, ''Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics''. J. B. Greenough. Boston. Ginn & Co. 1900
Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library
Characters in the Aeneid {{AncientRome-myth-stub Characters in Roman mythology Trojans