The Aeneid Book Summaries

Book 1- The Storm and Banquet in Carthage

Virgil invokes the muse and begins to tell the story of the journey from Troy to Rome. Virgil reveals that Juno is angry at the Trojans for two reasons:

- Paris, a Trojan, did not choose her in the contest for Eris' apple

- She is fond of Carthage, a Phonecian city, and she knows that one day the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage that destroys the city

Juno tells Aeolus to stir up the sea that the Trojans are travelling on- they have been looking for a new home for six years- and he does this which causes a storm that throws off the Trojans; Aeneas wishes he was dead.

Neptune then rescues the ships by calming the seas, and the ships sail for Libya where they stop on the coast and make camp.

Aeneas and his comrade Achate explore and find a troop of deer which Aeneas takes down. Aeneas is disheartened.

Venus appears to Jupiter and begs him to ease Aeneas' travel- Jupiter says that Aeneas will make it to Italy and rule there for three years, his son for 30 years after, and their descendants will be Romulus and Remus.

The next day Hermes is sent to tell the Carthaginians to welcome Aeneas, and Venus tells Aeneas of Dido. A group of Trojans are sent to Dido, who expresses interest in Aeneas. When he arrives Dido declares a feast, but Aeneas wishes to invite his son- he sends for Ascanius, who Venus replaces with the god of love Amor, who inflames Dido with love for Aeneas.

Dido wants to hear how Troy fell, and how they came to arrive in North Africa

Book 2- The Fall of Troy

The book is in Aeneas' perspective. He recounts the fact that the Greeks were at first unable to defeat the Trojans so sailed away- in reality they had left a giant wooden horse on the beach to fool the Trojans. The Trojans argue about whether to take in the horse- Laocoon, a priest, says that they shouldn't and spears the horse- later he and his sons die for this when a sea serpent devours them then slithers to Minerva's alter.

A Greek names Sinon appears and begs to be spared- he says that he was to be a human sacrifice but escaped. He tells the men that the Greeks have left after stealing a statue of Minerva that angered the goddess and they believe they will lose- they leave the horse as a replacement. Simon states that if the Trojans destroy the statue they will die, but if they bring it inside their walls the Greeks will die.

They bring in the horse, despite its rattling and Cassandra's protests.

When night come Sinon opens the horse and the Greeks begin a massacre.

Aeneas awakens and climbs onto his roof where he sees the destruction. He runs into the fight despite a priest, Pantheus, telling him it is pointless. Him and others disguise themselves as Greeks which causes great conflict and confusion. Aeneas runs into Priam's palace when he sees it being attacked- Priam is putting on his armour. His son rushes in and is killed by Neoptolemus, who then also kills Priam after a feeble fight.

Aeneas then runs- he is prepared to kill Helen, but is stopped by Venus who tells him to run with his father and son. Anchises accepts the sign of fire from his grandsons head as a sign to go with Aeneas and they leave. On the confusion Creusa is lost- Aeneas goes back, but meets her ghost who tells him to move on to Italy.

Book 3- Wanderings

Aeneas and his men take refuge under Mount Ida and build a fleet, then set off during summer. They head for Thrace and land on the coast, preparing to make a sacrifice. However when the pick some myrtle saplings for shelter at the altar blood spurts out, and then more- it is revealed that Polydorus, a Trojan sent to Thrace by Priam to hide gold, was killed by the Thracian king for his gold and then buried. The Trojans decide this is not the place for a new world.

They go to Delos and consult the Oracle who tells them to go to the original home of the Trojans- Anchises takes this to be Crete. They arrive here, but are quickly struck by plague and bad crops. They consider going to Delos again, however Aeneas has a dream in which the household gods tell him to go to Italy where Dardanus was from. They sail but are caught in storms that lead them to the harpies island where the food is defiled by the Harpies- they are told that they will not find a home until they eat their tables.

On their travels they learn that Priam's son Helenus ended up a king in Greece, married to Hector's wife.

Andromache tells them that she was taken by Neoptolemus who married her to Helenus, and when Neoptolemus is killed by Orestes Helenus inherits land.

Helenus tells them that when they see a giant white sow suckling 30 piglets they have reached home.

They leave and follow the coast of Italy looking for Cumae- they pass Scylla and Charybdis and the Cyclopes. They land on this island and meet a man abandoned by Ulixes who tells them to flee- they do and continue sailing, which is how they end up in Carthage.

Book 4- Dido

Dido is encouraged by her sister to pursue Aeneas, and this is also encouraged h the gods Juno and Venus. Juno believes that making them love one another will distract Aeneas. When on a hunting trip Juno causes rain that leaves Dido and Aeneas trapped for the night together where they profess their love- Dido takes this as a marriage. Iarbis, a king rejected by Dido complains to his father Jupiter about the relationship and Jupiter sends down Mercury to tell Aeneas to continue his journey.

Aeneas prepares to leave in secret but is caught by Dido who is distraught. She gets Anna to convince them to stay- they leave.

Dido decides to kill herself when she sees black water at her altar and wine turning to blood; she asks Anna to make a pyre to burn Aeneas' clothes, and when she does Dido ascends, stabbing herself on Aeneas' sword. She dies.

Book 5- Funeral Games

The Trojans see the flames from Dido's pyre as they sail away. They land on Sicily coincidentally the place where Anchises was buried just one year later. Aeneas decides to have a feast and makes a sacrifice; a snake slithers from his fathers burial mound.

During the ninth day of the celebration the games begin and the first is a boat race which is brutal and leads to men being thrown off ships and boats wrecked. Cloanthus wins but all men get prizes.

The next is a foot race in which Nisus trips in blood and trips another runner so his boyfriend Euryalus may win. They all win prizes.

Dares then fights a Sicilian Entellus who gets so violent when he seems to be losing that the fight has to be stopped- he is rewarded a bull which he punches between the eyes to show his power.

There is then archery, and a youth display of cavalry

Then Juno decides to stir up trouble by sending Iris the messenger to convince the women to burn the ships, which they do. The women are ashamed but it is too late as many ships have burnt. Aeneas asks Jupiter to save his ships or kill him; Jupiter saves 4 ships.

After days of planning and feasting Aeneas leaves Sicily leaving some men behind. He must go to the underworld before he can find his new homeland.

Venus begs Neptune to give Aeneas safe passage- he agrees only to take one man, Palinurus, who dies a peaceful but lamented death.

Book 6- The Underworld

Aeneas arrived in Italy and heads to the Sibyl in Cumae. The Temple of Apollo is decorated by Daedalus, depicting scenes of Ariadne as Theseus among others. The Sibyl comes and tells them to sacrifice 7 bulls and 7 ewes. She is then possessed by Apollo's prophecies:

- a new Achilles will rise in Latium

- the war will arise as a result of a foreign bride

- Trojans will find safety in a Greek city

After receiving these prophecies Aeneas asks to go to the Underworld to see his father. The Sibyl tells him to collect a golden branch from a forest: he nearly gives up, but is helped by doves. He also has to bury Misenus and sacrifice some black animals. Then he is led to the Underworld by the Sibyl. He meets Palinurus who explains his death at the hands of locals and that he will be buried soon. He tried to apologise to Dido who runs off to join her dead husband Sychaeus.

Deiphobus, Helen's second husband tells Aeneas that he was mutilated by Menelaus.

They then head to Elysium where Anchises is, who explains that some would have to be purified ready for their next life. Here there are future leaders of Rome waiting to be reborn. The Julian Dynasty is there, as is Marcellus and Anchises mentions his early death.

Aeneas and the Sibyl leave through the ivory gates of false dreams.

Book 7- War in Latium

The Trojans hold a funeral for Aeneas' nurse who has died, then head for Latium. They sailed past Circe's island and Neptune ensures their safety. They see the river Tiber spilling into the sea and Aeneas head for land.

The muse then tells the story of Latium:

- the king is Latinus who has grown old and is looking for a husband for his daughter Lavinia. The most eligible is Turnus who Anaya favours

- however an Oracle has told Latinus that his daughter must marry a foreigner and that their descendants will rule the world.

The whole region knows of this prophecy.

Meanwhile the Trojans eat, consuming the bread that their food was upon leading Ascanius to explain that they have eaten their tables fulfilling the Harpy's prophecies.

Aeneas begins building a fortress and some Trojans seek out Latinus- they offer him friendship for land and he agrees, revealing he wants Aeneas to marry his daughter. They agree peacefully.

However Juno then sends down Alecto who infects Amata with one of the snakes from her hair. When Latin doesn't listen to her pleas for Lavinia to marry Turnus she runs off to live as a Bacchante with Lavinia. She stirs up a frenzy.

Alecto then appears to Turnus as a dream, telling him to make war on the Trojans, throwing a torch at him. He awakens in fear and instructs the Rutulians to march on Latium.

Alecto then makes Ascanius shoot a deer that belongs to Tyrrus- this causes immediate strife and a huge battle erupts. The fight ends with many dead and the herdsmen head to Latium where Turnus is convincing people to turn on the Trojans. They call upon Latinus to open the gate of a hundred locks and when he doesn't Juno does.

The muse then describes the warriors, including Camilla, Lausus, Mezentius, and Turnus.

Book 8- Aeneas in Rome

Turnus is successful at rounding up recruits for his war.

Aeneas knows what is to come, and dreams of Tiberinus who is the god of the River Tiber, and he tells him to not be afraid of the war to come. He tells him that he will find a white sow, his sign of home, and that one day Ascanius will found the city Alba. He then tells Aeneas to go to the town of The Arcadians rules by King Evander, who will be on their side. He tells her to pray to Juno.

Aeneas wakes up and readies two ships, sacrifices the sow to Juno, then sets off to Evander where he is sacrificing to Hercules. Even though Evander was a Greek he agrees to help as he once met Priam. Evander tells them that Hercules once saved their people which is why they pray to him.

Meanwhile Venus is troubled and begs Vulcan to make Aeneas armour- he does this.

Evander tells them that the Arcadians themselves cannot help, but the Etrurians who were once led by Mezentius can help as they have thousands. They agree, and Aeneas takes Pallas with him to learn the ways of war.

They see Venus as they leave, and she gives Aeneas his armour and weapons. On the shield there is depicted many scenes from the Roman Empire, including the Battle of Actium.

Book 9- Nisus and Euryalus

Turnus is told by Juno to go to war; they march to the Trojan fortress and he looks for a way to lure them out- he decides to burn their ships, but it turns out that Jupiter has promised to protect them- the ships turn into goddesses and Turnus pretends this is a sign that the gods don't want the Trojans to escape. He and his troops set up camp.

Meanwhile Nisus and Euryalus say that they need to find Aeneas and warm him, and so they set out. They kill many Italians, but when Euryalus chooses to pick up the helmet of one man it flashes, and the Latins see, arriving and killing both men. When the morning comes the Rutulians put Nisus and Euryalus' heads on sticks and parade them in front of the Trojans- the news gets to Euryalus' mother who weeps for him.

Ascanius kills Numanus who is the brother in law of Turnus.

The Trojans and the Rutulians fight, but eventually Turnus is pushed back- he jumps into the River Tiber and allows it to carry him away.

Book 10- Pallas and Mezentius

Both Venus and Juno tell Jupiter why he should or shouldn't support the war between Latins and Trojans; he decides to stay out of it.

The battle between the Latins and Trojans continues.

That night Aeneas sails down the river and rejoins his companions ; he has brought Tarchon from Etruria and 30 of his ships, also Evander from Arcadia. The nymphs that used to be Aeneas' ship help his ships love quicker after telling them of Ascanius' trouble. Tarchon urges his men to hit their ships directly against the earth, and all are successful except from Tarchon himself and many of his men are carried away. The fight begins on the beach, and at a certain point many Arcadians consider running, but don't as Pallas gives a rousing speech. They continue to fight. Then Lausus and Pallas fight, and Turnus' sister Juturna tells him to help Lausus. He kills Pallas, as Hercules and Zeus cannot save the boy, and takes his ornamental belt.

Aeneas then proceeds to kill everyone, keeping 4 to sacrifice at Pallas' funeral, and killing even those that beg. Juno begs Turnus to allow Jupiter to survive just one more day- he allows it, and Juno goes down and creates a ghostly Aeneas that tricks Turnus into getting on to a ship that is cast out into the ocean. He is ashamed and contemplates suicide.

Mezentius is rapidly killing Trojans, and a man named Orodes that says he will die soon. Aeneas then fights him, wounding him badly, and his son Lausus comes to his rescue. Lausus is killed and a suicidal Mezentius attacks Aeneas. He is killed after Aeneas promises to bury Lausus and Mezentius together.

Book 11- Camilla and Drances

Aeneas is disturbed by Pallas' death but still makes offerings to the gods. He tells his men their fight is nearly over. He tells his men to bury their dead and send Pallas back to Evander. There is a description of Pallas' funeral and the sacrifices. Emissaries from the Latins ask for a day to bury their dead; Aeneas tells them they could be friends. Drances offers a 12 day truce in order to try and stop Turnus. During the 12 days people bury their dead and Drances attempts to stop Turnus but Amata does not like this.

Just then emissaries from Diomedes come and say that they will not support the Latins in their war as they have already seen enough death at the hands of the Trojans- he says Latin should give the gifts to Aeneas instead, and Drances says they should also offer Lavinia, asking Turnus to renounce his claim on her. He refuses. Meanwhile Aeneas and his men prepare themselves on the battlefield, and Turnus uses this as an excuse to show that peace is impossible. Camilla rides into battle and kills many Trojans- her patron goddess Diana tells another goddess Opis to kill the person who kills Camilla. Arruns begs Apollo to give him a clear shot and let him get away, believing there is no honour in killing a woman. He kills Camilla with his spear but is immediately killed by Opis.

Aeneas and Turnus have yet to meet in battle again.

Book 12- Truce and Duel

In Latium Turnus announces that it is time for him to fight Aeneas one on one; Latinus suggests he should just give up and take another wife, but Turnus refuses and Amata tells him she would rather die than have Aeneas as a son. Turnus is overcome with love for Lavinia and goes out to fight.

Aeneas prepares similarly. When they meet the Rutulians get upset as they realise Turnus is no match. Juno who is watching urges Juturna to help, and she stirs up the crowd in the disguise of a warrior. Then an eagle swoops down and seizes a swan, but is attacked by other sea birds. The augur interprets this as a sign they should back Turnus and another battle begins.

Aeneas is struck by an arrow that the healer can not get out; his mother provides an divine dittany that heals him instantly and he goes back into battle. Then both Aeneas and Turnus fight brutally. Aeneas tells his men to level the city until they surrender and his men attack. Amata hangs herself believing they have lost. Turnus hears of Amata's death and decides to face Aeneas knowing full well he will die. Turnus runs when he realises that his sword is not his one and cannot help him. He runs past a spear that earlier stuck for Aeneas and prays that he will not be able to remove it; Juturna then gives him his sword, and Venus allows Aeneas to remove his spear.

Jupiter tells Juno that the end has come and she should yield: she agrees as long as Aeneas promises to marry Lavinia and remain the Latins. Jupiter sends the furies to warn Juturna to stay back.

They then fight and Aeneas delivers a death blow with his spear- Turnus begs for his life, however Aeneas sees Pallas' belt and is consumers by rage and thus kills Turnus whose souls flutters down to the underworld.