Aeneid book 8

Who visits Aeneas in a dream?

• River God Tiber
  - promotes links to rome

what does the river God tell him?

• the land he is on is the home he’s sought

• he will find a great sow with a litter of 30
  - sign that after 30 years Ascanius will found Alba
  - Aeneas finds teh litter and sacrifices it to Juno (pietas)

• He will find an ally with the Arcadian city and Evander

What does Tiber helping Aeneas ships suggest?

• natural world contorts to help him
  - destiny
  - fulfilling the will of teh gods

What was Evander doing when Aeneas arrived?

• performing the yearly rites to Hercules
  - Pietas (to gods)
  - Cult of Hercules very important in Rome
  - creates good impression of Arcadians

Outline Aeneas and Pallas meeting:

• Pallas first approached them (alone so as not to fully disturb sacrifice)

• aeneas held out “olive branch of peace” and in clear, very Roman terms explains who they are

how are Evander and Aeneas linked?

• Evander had met Anchises

significance of the story of Cacus

• further links the story to Rome (references Roman landmarks -Mount Aventine)

• Hercules was important figure to Roman auidence

• Virtus and strength → roman ideal

Significance of Evander giving Aeneas tour

• Enthralled by furture Rome
  - Aeneas is a proto-roman → can some of his flaws be forgiven?
  - he can’t be Roman → Augustus needs to develop and improve from past

• augustan propaganda
  - aligns himself with the “golden age” and kingdom of saturn
  - Saturn gave them laws and brought peace (Aug promotes the same)

Why id Venus talking about how Troy was fated to fall important?

• Allows Rome to be founded
  - more important

How does Venus give her approval for Aeneas’ mission?

• flash of lightning

• Sound of trumpets

• saw armour in the sky glowing red

What does Aeneas dramatic reaction to Venus’ approval suggest?

• Almost Furor (bit too emotional and keen for war)
  - his homeric side of character

what is on the sheild Vulcan made for Aeneas?

• stories of future Rome

• Romulus and Remus

• Sabine women

• defeat of the Gauls

What is on the centre of the shield?

Battle of Actium

How is the centre of the shield propaganda ?

• United roman response
  - making it not appear like civil war, but the romans fighting foreign, eastern enemies
  - “india, arabians” “wealth of the barbarian world” “long processions in different cosutumes”

• Portrays Antony as full of Furor and out of control (corrupted by Cleopatra and the east)
  - Augustus brings peace and stability