Aeneas character profile

Key scenes and Analysis 

Book 1 – After the sea storm when the Trojans arrive at Carthage Aeneas boosts the morale of the Troops reminding them that despite all their hard endurances, they will make it to Latium. Further on in the Book when Aeneas and Achates are covered by Venus’ mortal mist, The remaining troops praise Aeneas as the most pious man they knew 

• It’s clear that Aeneas has constantia – a firmness of purpose among the Trojan ranks. He is well respected, and his presence is a key ingredient to the perseverance of the Trojans 

• Cowan - "Pius Aeneas, respectful of his duty to god, man, country and family, He is a model for the emperor Augustus, a template for what a good Roman is expected to be " - Aeneas commands respect with his piety 

Book 1 – Aeneas, believing that his comrades died at sea, privately mourns deeply for their losses. When Aeneas sees the depictions of Hector being dragged by Achilles chariot of the temple of Juno, he begins to groan  

• Aeneas mourning evoke a huge sense of Pathos for his situation – Temple of Juno triggers the suffering and loss that he has endured and carried with him for 7 years during his wandering.  

• Can sympathise with Aeneas situation 

Book 2 – When Aeneas saw the trojans being defeated, his spirit burned to muster troops. He gathers a group of Trojan soldiers and dives into the war. They kill a group of Greek comrades and take their armour to disguise themselves as Greeks and infiltrate the battle 

• Aeneas dives deeply into battle, an instinct to save his people: Aeneas begins to show the first signs of his paternal/pater trait, willing to sacrifice and risk himself to help fellow Trojans 

• Aeneas goes against Hectors instructions – For Aeneas, it is hard to imagine his life beyond troy as it is all that he’s known. It’s difficult for him to act on the principal of an unknown fate that he cannot materialise or put into perspective.  

Book 2 – As Aeneas carries Ascanius on his back, he realises that his wife Creusa is longer with them. He then retraces his steps to find her. Creusa's ghost visits him and tells him That he regelation to troy was at the will fo the Gods. Tells him to go where the Tiber river flows and there he will find a kingdom and Queen to claim. Aeneas tries to embrace Creusa but he can’t because she is a ghost 

• Perkell "Aeneas failed Creusa; he has much more care for his son and father" - depicts Aeneas in a negative light, blaming him for the death of his wife. However, i disagree with this scholarship as Creusa’s becomes a victim to the fate of the Gods rather than Aeneas – must burden him with too much pressure 

Book 4 -   Aeneas begins to engage in luxeria by walking around Carthage wearing a purple toga. Also begins to build homes and settlements for the Trojans in Carthage 

• Aeneas neglects his obligation of moving the trojans to a new city – once again is difficult for him to act upon a fate that he cannot materialise or feel any sort of connection to 

• Aeneas demonstrates the Trojan values of Luxeria and the love of rich and beautiful things – marks beginning transition from Trojan values to more modest, frugal Roman values – Aeneas still has a lot to learn before he can become the founder of Rome  

Book 4 – after the instructions and warnings of Mercury, Aeneas finally decides to leave Carthage in sail for Latium 

• Sowerby ‘Aeneas leaving Dido was an act of self-sacrifice’ Aeneas must play in the interest of the Trojans as a collective rather than only for personal, private pleasures 

• Sowerby - Aeneas’ difficulty or reluctancy is due to the fact that he has the Psychology of a defeated exile and victim of traumatic misfortune – Aeneas has suffered extreme, traumatising hardships. Should we blame him for indulging in his first moments of peace and prosperity for over 15 years? 

• Gransden ‘Book 4 is like a tragedy’ Aeneas must choose between himself and Rome 

Book 6 – pious Aeneas – Makes a pray to Apollo, thanking him for always pitying the Trojans during the Trojan war. Aeneas promises to Build Apollo and Diana a marble temple and a sacred shrine for the sybil in the Kingdom. Aeneas slaughters black lamb to mother of night and to the King of river Styx before descent into underworld 

• Aeneas’ dedicated to sacrifice and pray denotes him an as extremely pious individual 

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Book 6 – Aeneas requests to the Sybil that she guides him during his Katabasis – descent and return from the underworld. 

• Only the greatest of mythology’s heroes such as Heracles have been able to complete a Katabasis. Completing this journey puts him on par with heroes like Hercules, defining his heroism 

• Morgan ‘Aeneas is a hero capable of going down to the underworld, but also an extremely principled hero who goes to see his father again – links to the strength of father-son relationships – Aeneas is willing to risk his life, just to be reunited with his father 

• Aeneas consults his father so that he can have the strength and awareness to be the Hero who finds Rome – idea of respecting your father and learning from him is a key, Roman value of becoming an adult - Morgan ‘Trait is appropriate for somebody who is the ancestor of the Roman people and will establish their values’ 

Book 6 – the parade of heroes – Anchises reveals to Aeneas his future lineage including Alba Longa kings, Romulus, Julius Caesar and Augustus. 

• First manifestation of Aeneas fate and the promise of prosperity in finding home. A turning point in the poem that puts into perspective to Aeneas the future that is to come 

• Hardie ‘Anchises after showing Aeneas all the heroes fired his spirit with a love of the fame to come’ a personal love of a son for a father is transformed into a love for unborn descendants – a love of the fatherland 

Book 7 - Aeneas’ wet-nurse Caieta dies  

• Aeneas has lost city, Father and symbolic Mother – Transitional phase from Book 6-7 where Aeneas must depend on his leadership and skills to help him step up and become the true leader of Troy. There is no longer a childlike reliance on Anchises or Caieta. 

• Closes the door on Aeneas’ childhood and Trojan attachments – must learn how to become Roman instead of Trojan 

Book 7 – Aeneas instructs the trojans to offer an olive branch to Latinus as a symbol of peace and a pact of Xenia 

• Demonstrates respect for the land and an attempt of sensitivity to the current settlements  

Book 8 - the Tiber River God visits Aeneas and tells him that Latium soil has been waiting for Aeneas to arrive and reassures him that Latium is his home. Tells Aeneas that he will find a white sow who's just given birth to 30 pigs. When Aeneas sees this sow, he makes a blood sacrifice of the piglets to Juno 

• Even though Juno, hates him, Aeneas still demonstrates piety and devotion to the Gods, even those who are completely against his fate. Aeneas respects the hierarchy of the Gods 

• The 30 piglets represent the 30 years that Ascanius will rule – reference to Aeneas divinely ordained future lineage. Prosperity and leadership of his son 

Book 8 – Venus seduces Vulcan god of fire and forgery so that he will make Aeneas an immortal shield. Depicts key events in future Roman history such as the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, rape of the Sabines, Roman defence against the attack on the Gauls, The Lupercal – annual pastoral festival in Rome, the Battle of Actium – Rome Vs Egypt and Augustus throned at Apollo’s gates during his triple triumph 

• Aeneas has a direct wave of communication to the Gods which gives him numerous important advantages that will help him in battle 

• The shield is impenetrable – a huge advantage on the battlefield as any spears flung at him will be immediately deflected/ 

• The shield entails the glorious future of Rome, portraying it as a prosperous and strong-willed society and culture. Aeneas on his back is essentially carrying the future of Rome, emphasising the weight on his shoulders to fulfil fate. 

Book 10 – Aeneas when he arrives on the shores of Rome, is likened to Sirius, the dog star that brings drought to humanity. When the Trojans spot Aeneas’ return ‘fresh hope ignites their rage’ As Aeneas returns, his shield ‘spews streams of fire’ that are likened to the lethal glow of a comet on a clear night 

• While returning to the Latin shores, Aeneas is depicted at a terrifying, divine entity – Morgan suggests that Aeneas returns in this terrifically powerful way while embodying authority - Aeneas is described in ways that are very reminiscent of Achilles – to be likened to Achilles has the implications that the Trojans will win the war, but Achilles of course is a very disturbing, immoral character. 

• Aeneas has the power to boost the morale of the soldiers – has constantia within the Trojan army as his presence ignites hope. 

• Aeneas’ shield is depicted as vivid, incandescent, illuminated  

Book 10 – after the death of Pallas, Aeneas goes berserk on a wild and barbaric killing frenzy. He uses 12 Latins as a blood sacrifice for Pallas’ funeral pyre e.g. sulmo and Ufens, carves open soldiers' chests and kills Latin men who beg for their lives 

• For the Romans, human sacrifice was barbaric, and it would be terrifying for the Romans to see their founding father commit such an act. Human sacrifice was a counter-productive act – the Romans liked to view themselves as the embodiment of civilisation and Human sacrifice is the ultimate negation of this. The whole point of Romanisation was to expand, not to destroy. The men that Aeneas sacrifice had Roman names – Sulmo and Ufens – could be viewed as a critical message from Virgil about the destruction and loss of war. 

• Aeneas is likened to Aegaeon – a creature from hell who was thought to have 100 arms and legs. Aeneas is likened to a primal evil that originates from the depths of hell – portrayed to be a violent conqueror rather than a peaceful man trying to fulfil his fate – carving open soldiers' chests is a wild act that comes from the bloodlust and hunger from war 

• Aeneas killing Latin soldiers who beg for mercy could be viewed as a reversal of Augustan clementia – raises the question of whether Virgil agreed with Augustus’ clemency – only dictators tyrants and kings could grant clemency – it was a symbol of subordination, submission and humiliation  

• If we attribute all the positive characteristics of Aeneas to Augustus, then how should attribute the negative – suggests that Virgil may not be presenting a wholly good depiction of Augustus, but rather includes criticisms and flaws 

• Morgan says that Aeneas’ depiction in Book 10 is profoundly disturbing – However, Roman audience were so used to civil wars, it may not have been completely controversial to present Aeneas in this war = Rome was brutal and unempathetic about the way they dealt with Warfare. Romans may also have found Aeneas’ cause justified – sympathise with Aeneas, who is avenging the death of Pallas  

• However, Aeneas’ actions in Book 10 would certainly have been morally difficult for the Roman audience to handle – associated such activities with their uncivilised barbarian enemies like the celts of northern Europe and the hated Carthaginians – Romans very much believed in their own moral superiority over such wild civilisations. 

• For the Roman audience, their founding father was reducing his great pietas to nefas – furor Romanus – a difficult reality to accept for the Romans  

Book 10 – Aeneas wounds Mzentius. Lausus, his son, uses his shield to hold of Aeneas so that Mzentius may escape. Aeneas then faces Lausus and warns him not to fight as it would be a foolish thing to do going up against Aeneas. Aeneas then impales Lausus. When he sees Lausus’ dead body, Aeneas is overcome with grief and groans with pity for Lausus and Aeneas promises to return his body with the armour to Mzentius so that Lausus may have the proper burial rites 

• The Death of Lausus incites Aeneas to think of his own son Ascanius and his relationship with him. Father-son relationships are held with great importance by Aeneas and in his grief for Lausus, he returns to the role of a father, a redemption to his savagery, who can feel pity for the death of a young man.  

• Aeneas promising to return the body is a sign of respect even for the enemy 

Book 11 – After the death of Mzentius, Aeneas strips him of his armour and offers it as a trophy on a tree stump to mars, the God of war. He Also gives a speech to boost the confidence of the Trojan soldiers but asks them before they seek more glory, they must bury the bodies of fallen comrades and give them funeral gifts 

• Even in Aeneas’ darkest moments, he still remembers to act piously – doesn't keep his war trophies to himself but rather uses them to thank the Gods that helped them in war 

• Aeneas respects his soldiers enough to give them a proper burial 

Book 11 – Aeneas’ speech to Pallas – Aeneas mourns the loss of Pallas and grieves that he will never be able to see his fated kingdom. Aeneas expresses guilt for not being able to return Pallas safely to Evander like he had promised. Aeneas mourns for Pallas who will never be able to see Evander again or return to Pallanteum – hails Pallas and bids him farewell. pallas is described as a beloved foster son 

• Aeneas’ speech evokes a great sense of Pathos – Aeneas displays sorrow and anguish at the death of Pallas. Virgil here approaches the duality of war – the human catastrophe and consequences of violence 

• The loss of promising young men – Pallas could’ve achieved so much greatness and yet he was robbed of the chance by war – For Aeneas to achieve his fate, young men like Pallas had to die 

• Aeneas’ guilt for Evander shows the nature of father-son relationships and how it is an integral structure within society – Evander must rely on the succession of Pallas to continue his bloodline and inherit his Kingdom.  

Book 11 – Latin envoys are sent to the Trojan camps to ask for a truce period to bury their dead and Aeneas grants a 11-day truce period saying that the only reason he is here is because he was ordained to come by the fates, and it is Latinus’ fault for renouncing the friendship pact 

• Aeneas like a Roman senator/politician uses the dialogue with Drancs and the Latins to negotiate further terms and lay the foundations for a more positive relationship between the Latins and the Trojans after he defeats Turnus 

• Reinforces the idea that he only wants peace and no violence – iterating the Roman values of Clemencia and mercy – Aeneas is no tyrant. Redeems himself 

• Romanisation – conquer and expand the empire, but once conquered extend to olive branch to colonised territories – Continue peace and avoid conflict wherever necessary 

Book 12 – Duirng the Blood oath and sacrifice before the duel, Aeneas states that if he wins, he doesn’t demand that the Italians bow down to him but rather that they work to a pact of peace. Says that Latinus will retain his armies and the Trojans will errect a city for himself and Lavinia. 

• Aeneas is focusing on building a peaceful and prosperous civilisation – can see a future beyond the battle and beings to imagine one that is fruitful and peaceful 

• Most leaders would enslave defeated enemies but Aeneas wants to build 1 peaceful nation, again the roman value of extending the olive branch – demonstrates war only to a necessity and Aeneas will do anything to avoid conflict 

Book 12 - When the peace pact is disrupted, Aeneas is shot by an unknown arrow. Lapyx, a skilled healer favoured by Apollo tries to heal Aeneas, but he can’t because Apollo refuses to intervene. Venus flies to Crete and mixes Dittany, a healing herb, and ambrosia into Lapyx’s treatment. The arrow then easily slips out of Aeneas’ body and he can return. 

• Nobody boasts about having hit Aeneas, even his enemies respected him and wouldn't gain glory in gloating about causing him injury. 

• With the Divine intervention of Venus, Aeneas is easily healed and can readily return to battle – advantage of having a divine mother. 

Book 12 – Aeneas and Turnus begin to dual, both likened to hostile bulls charging at each other. Aeneas chases Turnus like a hunting dog chasing a deer while Turnus runs away in panic, begging his comrades to give him a sword after his one snapped in half. 

• The fact that they are both likened to bulls suggests that there is an even ground between Aeneas and Turnus – emphasises uncertainty of fate.  

• Creates a predator-prey dynamic. Turnus, the best of the Rutulian and Latin fighters is reduced to a helpless and desperate man who begs for help who is at the mercy of the ruthless Aeneas  

Book 12 – Turnus at the hands of Aeneas tries to beg for mercy: he holds his right hand and implores him to think of his own father. Turnus also promises Aeneas that the Land and Lavania are his. Aeneas does feel sympathy for Turnus, but he spots Turnus wearing Pallas’ golden sword belt and he is overcome with grief for Pallas 

• The book ends abruptly with a pessimistic ending. Aeneas negates Augustan clementia once again and the poem ends with an act of violence.  

• The death of Turnus isn’t jubilant or triumphant, but instead a quick and violent end which could possibly implies that Turnus’ death wasn’t really a victory which is somewhat unsettleing 

• Bucklet "For when Aeneas kills Turnus, Virgil employs the verb, condere, which means not just 'to stab', but also 'to found'. When Aeneas puts Turnus to the sword, he sets in motion the foundation of the Roman race" - implies that this act of killing Turnus was a harsh but crucial act to create the foundations of Rome. Can be linked back to the moral questions of do the means justify the end and Virgil here is suggesting that it does.