AP Latin Important Characters and Themes

Aeneid and Caesar

Aeneas

The refugee leader of the Trojans, destined to found a great race of people (the Romans) through his son Ascanius

Dido

The beautiful but doomed queen of Carthage. Originally from Phonecia, but fled her brother Pygmalion after he murdered her husband Syncheaus and founded a kingdom in Libya. She is forced to fall in love with Aeneas by Juno, who also joins them in a poorly defined marriage, and ends her life later in the novel when Aeneas inevitably leaves her.

Ascanius (Iulus)

Aeneas’ son. A young boy during the sacking of Troy who grows throughout the novel. Destined to found a line of great men who will eventually culminate in Romulus and Remus, i.e.: Rome.

Anchises

Aeneas’ father and a symbol of his Trojan heritage while alive. After death, he goads Aeneas on in his journey and gives him instructions in the underworld and in his dreams

Creusa

Aeneas’ only “real wife” who died during the siege of Troy after being separated from her family. Her ghost serves to push Aeneas onto the ships to begin his journey.

Sinon

The Greek boy left behind as a fake sacrifice to Minerva with the Trojan horse to trick the Trojans into bringing it within the city. He opens the gates later that night for the Grecian fleet to storm the city.

Achates

Aeneas’ friend and weapon-bearer. With Aeneas in the mist in book one before they speak with Dido.

Juno

The goddess of Marriage and wife of Jove, patron goddess of Carthage. She hates the Trojans for the war and does everything in her power to prevent them from reaching Italy. Serves as an overall antagonistic force in the epic.

Venus

Goddess of love and Aeneas’ mother. Supports Aeneas and the Trojans multiple times during their journey, and argues against the other gods in his favor when necessary.

Jupiter (Jove)

The god of lightning and the king of the Gods, husband to Juno. While not totally present, his ruling in matters involving the gods is always supreme. Serves as a force of the fates, letting Juno do what she might to stop the Trojans but not allowing her to derail what is destined to occur.

Neptune

God of the sea, generally kind to the Trojans. Calms the seas in book one when Aeolus and the winds overstep their authority into his domain and leads them to Carthage.

Aeolus

God of the winds, manipulated by Juno in book one to release a great storm against the fleet before being stopped by Neptune.

Cupid

Son of Venus, god of Eros. Is sent by Venus in book one to make Dido fall in love with Aeneas to ensure his safety in Carthage.

Ulysses

Odysseus

Achilles

killed by Hector, greatest Greek warrior of the Trojan war

Paris

Trojan prince who incited the Trojan war based on his dumb decision of who was the most beautiful goddess based on their prospective gifts to him. He picked Venus because of Helen. Helen was married.

Hector

Brother of Paris, fiercest warrior of the Trojans who was killed by Achilles and had his body brutalized and mangled after his death.

Helen

Her kidnapping by Venus and Paris initiates the Trojan war

Priam

Aged king of Troy who is killed by Pyrrhus during the siege.

Pyhrrus

Son of Achilles, kills King Priam as he slips in his son’s blood.