Aeneid Books 7-12

Omen of Lavinia’s Hair catching fire

Book 7

Significance - Omen that she will have a glorious future, along with her descendents. Was going to engaged with Turnus, but Latinus (father) recieves a prophecy that she should marry a foreigner. Marries Aeneas.

Prophecy told to King Latinus by Faunus

Book 7

Told that Lavinia will marry a foreigner (Aeneas)

The Harpy’s prophecy is fulfilled

Book 7

Aeneas and his crew find themselves eating their tables - Get so hungry that they eat the bread plate, know that they are in the right place to find the new city

Alecto sends Amata mad

Book 7

Alecto is a Fury sent by Juno to incite war between the Trojans and Latins.

Infects Queen Amata with anger by throwing a snake from her hair.

She goes against Aeneas and his proposed marriage to Lavinia, Amata’s daughter.

Alecto sends Turnus mad

Book 7

Alecto flies to Turnus’s bedroom and disguises herself as an elderly priestess.

Alecto encourages Turnus to attack the Trojan ships and fight Latinus because of Lavinia.

However, Turnus dismisses her, but reveals herself and throws a torch of fire into his chest (symbolic of furor).

Alecto starts the war

Book 7

Alecto sounds the war horn, and turns the village brawl into a full scale war.

Virgil’s simile to describe the start of the war between the Trojans and Latins

Book 7

‘as when a wave begins to whiten at the wind’s first breath,
and the sea swells little by little, and raises higher waves’

The war starts like a village brawl and escalates because of Alecto. like how a wave gets bigger into a tsunami

Simile used for Amata once Alecto has turned her mad

Book 7

‘a top whipped by boys in play’

Spinning all around the city. Also compared to a Maenad.

Metamorphoses of Cybele’s ships

Book 9

Cybele lets Aeneas use her trees to build his ships, but she wants them returned to her. When Aeneas arrives at his destination, and the wood turns into sea nymphs that swim away.

Nisus and Euryalus’ mission

Book 9

They sneak out at night to send a message to Aeneas.

Implied lovers

Description of the death of Euryalus

Book 9

Use of flower imagery. Showcases the death of young men. Talks about mother/parents for emphasis on the tragedy.

Distracted by wanting to steal someone’s armour, glimmers in the sunlight which reveals his location.

Apollo (in disguise) tells Ascanius not to fight anymore

Book 9

Ascanius is a young man without real war experience. Ascanius is Aeneas’ son. Emphasis on having an heir, similar to Augustus.

Apollo comes to earth disguised as the elderly Trojan, Butes.

Instructs Ascanius to stop fighting because his purpose is to promote peace. Roman propaganda as Augustus is said to have done this for Rome.

When Apollo leaves, the other Trojans realize he was a god, and remove Ascanius from the battle.

Pandarus and Bitias

Book 9

Trojans that guarded the fortress gate. Opened it and dared the Latins to enter the fortress. Turnus then enters and killed them and other Trojans.

Intervention of gods - Mars makes the Latins stronger, and Juno makes Pandurus’ spear miss Turnus

Council of the Gods (second one)

Book 10

Juno and Venus fight to get Jupiter to help their sides. Eventually, Jupiter decides the war should carry on and everything should be left to fate.

Showcases importance of Fate.

Prophecy given to Aeneas by Tiber River

Book 8

Tiber god comes to Aeneas in a dream. Says to not fear war as he has reached his homeland. Travel up the river till he reaches the white sow (female pig). Also advices to pray to Juno to make her less angry.

Also tells Aeneas to go to a city named Pallanteum, and Aeneas should get the Arcadian king Evander on his side to help fight in the war.

Omen of the white sow

Book 8

There is a white sow sat on the shore, with 30 piglets around it. Shows Aeneas is in the right place, and signifies Ascanius’ rule for 30 years.

Story of Hercules and Cacus

Book 8

This story is mentioned by Evander during dinner with Aeneas in Palantium. Cacus is a monster that Hercules defeats. Foreshadowing the war. Scholar called Camps thinks that it reflects Augustus saving Rome from Mark Antony.

Evander describes a golden age

Book 8

Reference to Augustus, who was said to bring a golden age to Rome. This is mentioned when Evander tours Aeneas around Palantium where Rome will be in the future.

The shield of Aeneas

Book 8

Venus asks Vulcan to make a shield for Aeneas, this shield shows scenes of Roman mythology and history.

The centre image of the shield is Augustus leading in the Battle of Actium. This battle is what led to his succession to Rome.

Images around the centre included the rape of the Sabine women (stealing them for Rome), Romulus and Remus who was raised by a wolf

The death of Pallas

Book 10

Pallas is described as a bull, and Turnus as a lion which shows that Turnus is stronger than Pallas (Pallas only a young man)

Death of young men.

Pallas prays to Hercules before throwing a spear at Turnus, but this barely hits him. Turnus wishes Pallas’ father was there to watch him kill Pallas - takes Pallas’ belt as a prize.

The belt has depictions of young men being killed by the brides at night. Danaides.

The death of Lausus

Book 10

Aeneas is about to kill Lausus’ father, but Lausus jumps to take the kill. Aeneas feels guilty as he is reminded of Ascanius. Mezentius grieves even though he is a tyrant. Death of young men.

Aeneas performs human sacrifice

Book 10

Emotional and extreme reaction to Pallas’ death - overcome with furor. Kills people with Latin names (sons of Ufenes and sons of Sulmo) - worse because they are Roman ancestors.

Aeneas kills Magus

Book 10

Magus begs for mercy in the war. Aeneas kills him anyways even though he was told by Anchises to be merciful.

Death of Mezentius

Book 10

Mezentius makes a tragic speech about his mum’s death. Tries to kill Aeneas and fails. When he dies, he asks to be buried with his son.

War council of the Italians

Book 11

Latinus asks for peace with the Trojans, wants to offer them a small piece of land.

Drances expresses his hate for Turnus, and talks about the significance of the innocent being killed. Drances could be said to be Virgil’s voice.

Turnus states that he can win the war if he gets more allies.

Camilla’s comparison to the Amazons and to Diana

Book 11

Significance of being compared to Diana, as she is goddess of hunting and maidens. Link to Dido who was compared.

Compared to famous Amazon queens - Hippolyta and Penthesilea, associated with Greek heroes/men. Both queens and leaders. Also compared to the Amazons due to her brightly coloured armour.

Death of Camilla

Book 11

Characterised as feminine - gets distracted by the colourful armour worn by Chloreus she spots. Killed by Arruns - Trojan as she is distracted.

Juno sends Juturna to intervene

Book 12

Juturna is disguised as an Italian soldier. Tells them to fight or they will be enslaved by the Trojans.

Aeneas and Turnus agree to duel

Book 12

Turnus tells Latinus that he is going to try his hardest to win Princess Lavinia. Challenges Aeneas and begins to duel.

The treaty is broken

Book 12

The treaty was to have Aeneas and Turnus duel to settle the war. However, a Latin named Tolumnius throws a spear which kills a Trojan, restarting the war.

Juturna’s omen

Book 12

Juturna creates a false omen. Makes an eagle snatch a swan, but the swan is dropped when other birds attack the eagle. Makes the Italians believe if they can group together they can win against the Trojans.

Death of Menoetes

Book 12

Menoetes is an Arcadian ally of the Trojans. Killed by Turnus during the general fighting that ensues following the Latins’ violation of the treaty between Aeneas and Latinus. Motif for the death of young men.

Venus heals Aeneas on the battlefield

Book 12

Aeneas is hit by an arrow. Tries to take it out himself and fails. Doesn’t come out first time because Apollo didn’t want to get involved.

Venus flies to Crete, and picks up a healing herb and mixes it into the healers treatment. This allows the arrow to come out easily.

Amata’s suicide

Book 12

Thinks that Turnus has died and lost the duel. She blames herself for it and hangs herself.

Aeneas kisses Ascanius through his helmet on the battlefield

Book 12

Showcases pietas. However, this is a rare case and could show that he is not very affectionate towards Ascanius.

Jupiter puts a stop to Juturna’s interference

Book 12

Jupiter sends down a fury disguised as a bird. Juturna understands the meaning of this and wishes that she wasn’t immortal as she wanted to stay with Turnus in the underworld.

Jupiter’s final promise to Juno

Book 12

Juno asks that the Latins keep their old name and customs, instead of becoming Trojans. Jupiter agrees, saying that the Latin-Trojan race will bring glory to Juno.

The death of Turnus

Book 12

Turnus asks Aeneas to pity Daunus, his father, and spare him so he can return to his people.

He admits defeat and concedes Lavina.

Aeneas considers Turnus’ pleas, but then sees Pallas’ belt that Turnus had removed and wears as a trophy. Kills him.

Furor taking over.