Characters in The Aeneid

Aeneas

The protagonist of The Aeneid, survivor of the siege of Troy

Dido

Queen of Carthage, lover of Aeneas

Turnus

Ruler of the Rutulians, Aeneas's major antagonist

Ascanius

Aeneas's young son, symbol of Aeneas's destiny

Anchises

Aeneas's father, symbol of Aeneas's Trojan heritage

Creusa

Aeneas's wife at Troy, killed during the city's fall

Sinon

Greek youth who tricks the Trojans into taking in the wooden horse

Latinus

King of the Latins, allows Aeneas into his kingdom

Lavinia

Latinus's daughter, object of the Trojan-Latin struggle

Amata

Queen of Laurentum, opposes the marriage of Lavinia to Aeneas

Evander

King of Pallanteum, allies with Aeneas against Turnus

Pallas

Son of Evander, entrusted to Aeneas's care

Drancës

Latin leader who questions Turnus's motives

Camilla

Leader of the Volscians, a race of warrior maidens

Juturna

Turnus's sister, provokes a battle between the Latins and Trojans

Achates

A Trojan and personal friend of Aeneas

Juno

Queen of the gods, hates the Trojans and opposes Aeneas

Venus

Goddess of love, mother of Aeneas, protects the Trojans

Jupiter

King of the gods, directs Aeneas's destiny

Neptune

God of the sea, aids Aeneas's voyage

Mercury

Messenger god, sent on errands to Aeneas

Aeolus

God of the winds, aids Juno in creating bad weather for the Trojans

Cupid

God of erotic desire, causes Dido to fall in love with Aeneas

Allecto

One of the Furies, incites the Latin people to war against the Trojans

Vulcan

God of fire and the forge, crafts superior arms for Aeneas

Tiberinus

River god associated with the Tiber River

Saturn

Father of the gods, overthrown by his son Jupiter

Minerva

Goddess who protects the Greeks during the Trojan War

Apollo

God of the sun, helps the Trojans in their voyage

Ulysses

Hero of Homer's Odyssey, one of the captains of the Greek army

Achilles

Greatest of the Greek warriors

Hector

Greatest of the Trojan warriors

Andromachë

Hector's wife, advises Aeneas on his course to Italy

Paris

Trojan prince who sparked the Trojan War by abducting Helen

Helen

The most beautiful of mortal women, wife of Menelaus

Menelaus

Greek king, husband of Helen

Agamemnon

Leader of the Greek army at Troy

Priam

King of Troy, slain during the Greeks' sacking of the city

Pyrrhus

Son of Achilles, murderer of Priam and Priam's sons