When writing the ''
Aeneid
The ''Aeneid'' ( ; la, Aenē̆is or ) is a Latin Epic poetry, epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Troy, Trojan who fled the Trojan_War#Sack_of_Troy, fall of Troy and travelled to ...
'',
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: t ...
(or Vergil) drew from his studies on the Homeric epics of the ''
Iliad
The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the '' Odys ...
''
and the ''
Odyssey
The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major Ancient Greek literature, ancient Greek Epic poetry, epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by moder ...
''
to help him create a
national epic poem for the
Roman people.
Virgil used several characteristics associated with epic poetry, more specifically
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the '' Iliad'' and the '' Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of ...
's epics, including the use of
hexameter verse,
book division, lists of
genealogies and underlying themes to draw parallels between the Romans and their cultural predecessors, the Greeks.
Similarities to the ''Iliad''
The second half of the ''Aeneid'', Books VI through XII,
follow similarly to what happens throughout the ''Iliad''.
Heroes
Book VI of the ''Aeneid'' reveals a prophecy for Aeneas by the
Sibyl of Cumae stating that a Latin-born
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's '' Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Pe ...
, who is also the son of a goddess, exists (''Aeneid'', Book VI, lines 89–90).
This Latin-born Achilles is never explicitly mentioned. In the ''Aeneid'' there are allusions to both Aeneas and Turnus fulfilling the Latin-born Achilles prophecy.
The death of Pallas sparks an element of
furor in Aeneas, as does the death of Patroclus inspires furor in Achilles. The theme of furor is a common characteristic as it gives the heroes reasons to fight and avenge.
Prophecies
Prophecies contribute a large theme among epics, especially that of the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' and the ''Aeneid''. From the beginning of the ''Iliad'', readers knew that the Greeks were fated to triumph over the Trojans, as was declared by the king of the gods, Zeus.
Achilles' fate was also foretold; if he went to war he would die a hero. Similarly, Aeneas was told by the ghost of Hector in Book II that he was to leave burning Troy to found a new city.
Throughout the rest of the epic, the gods include reminders that Aeneas is destined to find Italy and found Rome for future generations.
Ekphrasis
Another thing Virgil replicates from the ''Iliad'' is the
ekphrasis of Aeneas' shield. In Book VIII of the ''Aeneid'',
Vulcan (the Roman equivalent of the Greek god
Hephaestus) forges a shield for Aeneas before he goes into battle.
This is similar to Hephaestus creating Achilles' shield in Book XVII of the ''Iliad''.
Both of the goddesses who mothered the heroes (
Venus and
Thetis) feared for the safety of their sons preceding war, so both went to Vulcan/Hephaestus asking for him to create armor and a shield for Aeneas and Achilles. Upon the finish of the god of fire's creations, the poets soon followed with a detailed description of the shields, an ekphrasis. The ekphrasis of the shield of Achilles depicts everything that the world currently consisted of, as well as opposites, such as war and peace, heaven and earth, etc.
The ekphrasis of Aeneas' shield depicts Rome's greatest glories that are to come, such as the founder of Rome,
Romulus, with his twin brother Remus with the she-wolf that cared for the twins, and Augustus' victory at the
Battle of Actium.
Similarities to the ''Odyssey''
The first half of the ''Aeneid'' mimics the journey of Odysseus in several ways. Though the ''Odyssey'' takes course over the span of 24 books while the ''Aeneid'' replicates the happenings in the ''Odyssey'' in 6 books, there are several comparisons to make.
The characters
Odysseus and
Aeneas
In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas (, ; from ) was a Trojan hero, the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and the Greek goddess Aphrodite (equivalent to the Roman Venus (mythology), Venus). His father was a first cousin of King Priam of Troy (both ...
are both royalty, Odysseus being the king of
Ithaca and Aeneas a Trojan prince. Without the help of divine intervention though, neither hero would have met his destiny, though there were opposing gods who wanted to delay and provide hardship for the heroes along the journey. Odysseus’ antagonist was
Poseidon, the god of the sea, whom he angered by blinding Poseidon's son
Polyphemus. In doing this, Poseidon's wrath was given every chance possible, especially with storms blowing the Greek ships off course, even destroying them.
Hera was the goddess who used everything in her power to delay Aeneas from ever fulfilling his prophecy since Aeneas was a Trojan, and Hera had a hatred for the Trojans ever since the Trojan prince
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
gave a
golden apple to
Aphrodite
Aphrodite ( ; grc-gre, Ἀφροδίτη, Aphrodítē; , , ) is an ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek goddess associated with love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion (emotion), passion, and procreation. She was syncretized with the Roman god ...
, stating that she was the most beautiful out of the two goddesses:
Athena and
Hera. Storms caused by Hera also blow the Trojan fleet about and off course, which ultimately lands them at
Carthage
Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the clas ...
(leading to another reason for Hera to despise Aeneas and the Trojans).
Stories within a story
The concept of a character narrating a story within the current story, providing subsequent layers, is seen in both the ''Aeneid'' and the ''Odyssey'', more specifically the story of the heroes' journey up until that point in time, since both epics start
in medias res, in the middle of things. With the story of Odysseus, the Greek washes up on the shores of
Scheria, the land of the Phaeacians, who hospitably take Odysseus in and ask him how he has come to their land. Odysseus spends Books IX through XII
recounting his journey from
Troy
Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Çan ...
to where he was presently. In Aeneas' case, upon arrival in
Carthage
Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the clas ...
,
Dido asked Aeneas to share his story, so Books II and III
were narrating the fall of Troy and how Aeneas and his people arrived at Carthage.
The journey
Both heroes sail over the same sea, sometimes visiting the same locations and experiencing the same difficulties. In Book III
of the ''Aeneid'', Aeneas and his men come close to
Scylla and
Charybdis, as Odysseus and his men do in Book XII
of the ''Odyssey'', followed by the Trojans landing on the island of the Cyclopes, as Aeneas does in Book III.
Aeneas' crew had the fortune of not having the same fate as some in Odysseus' crew. Virgil also included an emaciated Greek named Achaemenides, who had sailed with Odysseus but had been left behind. The two heroes also make a
katabasis into the Underworld to retrieve information from the deceased.
The homecoming
Upon arrival in Ithaca, Odysseus is met with suitors who are in his home, destroying it, and trying to win the hand of his wife, Penelope. Odysseus proceeds to fight off these suitors, killing them so he can have his home back. Similarly, Aeneas is supposed to found his home in
Latium
Latium ( , ; ) is the region of central western Italy in which the city of Rome was founded and grew to be the capital city of the Roman Empire.
Definition
Latium was originally a small triangle of fertile, volcanic soil ( Old Latium) on ...
and marry the princess
Lavinia, where he is met with the army of
Turnus, who was the king of Rutuli and Lavinia's leading suitor before Aeneas came along. Aeneas has to engage in a battle before he can finally rest in his newfound home.
References
{{Odyssey navbox
Homer
Greece in fiction
Italy in fiction
References in literary works
References to literary works