The Aeneid Book Seven
Book Seven After Aeneas buries his old nurse who has just died, the men sail past Circe’s Island. In the distance they can hear the howling of boar and wolves – these are the noises of the men she has transformed into animals. A strong wind from Neptune ensures that they are able to avoid her shores. Seeing a forest in the distance, Aeneas sails into the mouth of the river Tiber.
Book Seven Like in the beginning of The Aeneid, Virgil calls on the muse to start the second half of the narrative, by describing the political situation of Latium. The king, Latinus, has a single daughter, Lavinia. She is pursued by many warriors but the great warrior Turnus, lord of a neighbouring town, is the most eligible and Queen Amata supports his pursuit of her daughter. When the king goes to see an oracle he is told that Lavinia is destined to marry a foreigner, not a Latin.
Book Seven Meanwhile, Aeneas and his men eat on the beach, with fruit spread out on hard, stale loaves of bread. They finish the fruit but are still so hungry that they also eat the bread. Ascanius jokes that they have indeed eaten their tables, just as the harpie prophesised. Aeneas recognises that they have arrived at their promised land and is filled with joy. The next day Aeneas sends envoys to King Latinus requesting a share of the land for the foundation of a new city.
Book Seven Latinus is given gifts, brought from Troy, and after Aeneas’ promises of loyalty he agrees to their request. He even tells the Trojans about the oracle concerning his daughter’s marriage to a foreigner. The envoy is told to tell Aeneas of this prophecy and is also given three hundred horses to bring back to him. Latinus understands that accepting fate, even if it means that the Trojans will one day rule his kingdom, will prove a safer course than resisting destiny.
Book Seven Juno witness the safe arrival of Aeneas, in spite of her attempts to shipwreck him and is furious. She enlists the help of Allecto, a fury, to cause war between the Trojans and the Latin people. Allecto goes to Queen Amata and poisons her, making her mind insane. The deranged queen goes to her husband and begs him to let Lavinia marry Turnus. Latinus refuses to give her this request and the queen becomes even more upset.
Book Seven In a frenzy, Amata takes her daughter and hides her in the forests, calling on other women to join her. Allecto then goes to Turnus inflames him with indignation at the idea of losing Lavinia and submitting to a Trojan king. Turnus rallies his men and companions and they prepare for war. Allecto then goes to the Trojan camp and after giving his hounds the scent of a prized stag of Latinus, encourages Ascanius to go hunting.
Book Seven When Ascanius kills this prized stag the surrounding farmers are outraged and take up arms against the Trojans. These early battles between the natives and the Trojans end in many deaths, on both sides. The Latin army bring their dead and wounded to Latinus’ gates and Turnus arrives, bringing more men with him. King Latinus tries to throw Turnus out of the palace as he does not want war. However, Amata and other Latins clamour and scream for war.
Book Seven Latinus is unable to stop the inevitable, particularly when Juno gets involved again, and war begins. In the final pages of the book we get a list of the Latin champions going to war: Mezentius, Caelculus, Clausus, Umbro, Virbius etc. Turnus is delighted with the prospect of war andprepares to lead these men into battle, along with Camilla, a female warrior.
Book Seven Reading Read the following passages: l. 47 – 150: describing Latinus’ background l. 287 – 559: describing Allecto initiating the conflict l. 603 – 625: describing the beginning of war
Book Seven Important Points Note that Aeneas comes to Italy in peace: he sends ambassadors to Latinus. War is foisted on him. At no stage does Aeneas appear to be a war-mongerer. The machinations of Juno (via Allecto) causes the conflict. Juno intervenes four times in this book to ensure that war is waged between Turnus and Aeneas. Her anger with Aeneas is very spiteful indeed and seems utterly futile and malicious.
Book Seven Important Points Note the description of The Gates of War – Virgil is referring to a contemporary tradition where the gates of Mars were opened when Rome declared conflict on her enemies. Virgil is implying that this tradition was not just a modern one – but had ancient roots, stretching back to the time of Aeneas.
Book Seven Important Points Virgil makes it abundantly clear than Aeneas does not initiate the conflict. Juno’s intervention seems pointless, for Aeneas is fate-bound to settle in Italy, integrate with the locals and become as Roman as the Latins themselves. The second half of the epic concerns itself with Aeneas establishing himself in Italy after undergoing a ferocious war with the native tribesmen. It contains lengthy battle scenes and stylistically mirrors Homer’s epic the Iliad.
Book Seven Important Points Listing (at length) the names of the main combatants may seem tedious to a modern audience. When you read them don’t get bogged down, (skip over them).
Book Seven Questions Describe the moment Aeneas realises he has arrived at the prophesised land. What impression do you get of King Latinus in this book? Give reasons for your answer. Give a detailed explanation of the different ways that Allecto ignites war between the Latins and the Trojans.