The Aeneid Book Twelve

Book Twelve Turnus, having seen that the Latin lines haven been broken, promises Latinus he will kill Aeneas or die defending the city. The king tells him to stay and defend the city because he is their only defence against the Trojans, he also reminds him that he has a land of his own to protect and would do better if there were no war at all. Latinus also advises Turnus that he should choose another wife.

Book Twelve Queen Amata also tells Turnus to remain and defend the city and not to battle Aeneas one on one. However, Turnus is so over come with love for Lavinia, he determines that he will kill Aeneas and sends a messenger to Aeneas to announce the challenge. When Aeneas receives news of the challenge he is delighted. He is anxious to stop the needless death that war brings.

Book Twelve Aeneas marks out the field for the fight and makes sacrifices to the gods. When Juno sees this she goes to Juturna, Turnus’ sister, and asks the nymph to stop Turnus from dying. At the time of the fight Aeneas and Latinus meet in the centre of the marked zone, while their respective priests make sacrifices. Aeneas promises the king that, if he wins, he will leave the Latinus in charge and respect their customs. He promises to live among the Latins in peace. In return Latinus promises to honour the peace treaty and give him Lavinia as his wife.

Book Twelve In order to save her brother, Juturna comes among the soldiers disguised as a noble officer called Camers. She tells them that the match between the two is not equal and it is shameful to leave the result of war on one dual alone. In addition to an omen, these sentiments motivate the soldiers and they grab their swords, killing a Trojan in the process. In the fray that follows the altars are upturned, Latinus flees to the city and a Latin charges at one of the Tuscan leaders.

Book Twelve While Aeneas tries to discover what is happening and stop the conflict from reigniting, one of the many arrows flying around him strikes him in the thigh. Turnus sees this and runs towards the injured Aeneas, hoping to use the opportunity to finish him off. As he makes his way towards Aeneas he kills many Trojans. Ascanius and other soldiers carry Aeneas from the field and Aeneas limps back to his camp, the arrow is still lodged in his thigh.

Book Twelve Iapyx, the Trojan physician, tries to cut out the arrowhead with a sword but he is unsuccessful. Venus hears the distress of Aeneas and descends down to his camp. She mixes herbs and potions into the water the was poured onto his wound. Aeneas is immediately relieved from pain, the wound heals and the arrowhead comes out. Iapyx admits that it is not his doing that Aeneas is cured.

Book Twelve Aeneas hugs his son and leaves his camp, telling him to watch and learn about valour, before he departs. He leads his men and when the Trojans pour back onto the battlefield, the fighting and killing begins again. Juturna recognises the approaching Trojans, she throws the driver from Turnus’ chariots, takes the reigns and leads him away from danger. Aeneas follows but only ends up going around in circles and so returns to the battle.

Book Twelve Both Aeneas and Turnus kill each other’s men and the conflict intensifies all around them. Venus now directs Aeneas towards the city as it has been left undefended. He instructs his men to form a wedge formation and head for the walls of the city. The Latins panic, in the hysteria Queen Amata thinking that Turnus is dead and blaming herself for the cause of war, hangs herself. Hearing the cries of suffering from the city, Turnus rushes back to the rescue.

Book Twelve Not wanting his people to suffer further, he calls for the siege to end and for Aeneas to emerge and fight him hand-to-hand, as they had originally agreed. Aeneas meets him in the city’s main courtyard, and at last, with all the troops circled round, the duel begins. Turnus strikes first with his sword but this breaks on Aeneas’ shield, he then runs away from Aeneas but is jostled back onto the field.

Book Twelve Aeneas gives chase but is slowed down by his wound, and the battle zone is circled a few times, as the two leaders chase each other. When Aeneas hurls a spear at Turnus, it lodges in a tree sacred to Turnus’ family. Turnus prays to his ancestors that the spear will not be released from the tree and for a while Aeneas struggles to pull his spear from the wood. However, Venus helps him by loosening the spear for him.

Book Twelve Up in the heavens, Jupiter tells Juno that she has harassed the Trojans enough and it must stop. She already knows the struggle’s inevitable outcome and there is no changing that. Juno finally admits her wrongdoing and also asks Jupiter that if the new race of people is to survive after the war, they should be called Latins, worship Latin gods and keep Latin customs. Juno does not want the new settlers to be known as Trojans. Jupiter agrees to this and Juno, pleased with the compromise, plays no further part in the war.

Book Twelve Jupiter sends a fury down to remove Juturna, who is still protecting Turnus, from the scene. Meanwhile, Turnus lifts a boulder nearby and tries to hurl this at Aeneas, missing him. Aeneas then hurls a spear at Turnus, it pierces his shield and penetrates his thigh and Aeneas descends on Turnus to finish him. Turnus asks Aeneas to return his body to his father for burial, after he has killed him.

Book Twelve For a moment Aeneas hesitates, showing pity, but he sees the belt of Pallas around Turnus’ waist and enraged, Aeneas kills Turnus, plunging a spear into his chest. With the death of Turnus the conflict, and the book ends.

Book Twelve Reading Read the following passages: l. 1 – 77

Book Twelve Important Points Although Turnus has been brash, arrogant and merciless during this epic, it’s hard not to feel some pity for him as the epic ends. He has being abandoned by Juno, left to the mercy of the fates. He pleads for his own life to be spared etc. Turnus has a truly shameful death, “And with a groan for that indignity, his spirits fled to the gloom below”. There is little heroic about his death. However, in the fullness of time he won’t matter, Aeneas will be the one remembered. Losers don’t count! To the victor the spoils etc.

Book Twelve Important Points Juno has being a thorn in Aeneas side right throughout the epic. Yet she seems to be easily mollified by Jupiter’s deal with her: The Trojans will speak Latin, take Roman names etc. She abandons hassling the Trojan with great ease – this seems paradoxical when set against her behaviour over the whole epic and the level of her grudge and contempt for the Trojan leader.

Book Twelve Questions Why does Turnus decide to battle Aeneas? What does King Latinus advise him to do? What does Juno ask Juturna to do? What agreement do Latinus and Aeneas make prior to the battle? How does Juturna stop the one on one battle? How does Aeneas react to the riot that breaks out? What happens to Queen Amata? Describe in your own words the battle between Aeneas and Turnus.