The Aeneid: Book 3 In Exile Joe Bennett

Setting Queen Dido has received Aeneas in Carthage and welcomes his as a guest. While falling deeply in love with him at the hands of Cupid she asks him to tell his story. Book two is his story about the end of the Trojan War and the fall of Troy. Book three follows his life in exile, from Troy to Sicily.

Aeneas telling his story to Dido

Characters Anchises- Aeneas' father Ascanius (Iulus)- Aeneas' son with Creusa Helenus- Son of Priam, prophet Andromache- Hector’s widow, servant of Helenus Polydorus- Dead son of Priam King Anius- King of Delos, friend of Anchises, prophet Achaemenides- Formerly sailed with Odysseus Polyphemus- The man-eating cyclops

Troy to Crete Aeneas gathers survivors from Troy and they build a fleet to flee the now hostile land. In Thrace they find the grave of Polydorus in the form of a bloody bush, they give a proper tomb and set sail. The Trojans set sail again and land on Delos, Anchises recognizes the King, Anius, and they find refuge. Anius, a priest of Apollo, gives them a prophesy that they must go back to where their ancestors came from. Anchises believes that this means Crete, where Teucer is from. When the arrive on the now vacant island all they are at peace for a little while but soon plague strikes.

Crete to Chaonia A prophecy from the gods, delivered in the form of statues of the gods in Aeneas' dreams, tells Aeneas that Crete is not what the original prophecy meant. Instead it meant the homeland of Dardanus, which was called Hesperia (Italy). So the Trojans leave Crete and find themselves on an island filled with cattle, the island, Strophades unbeknownst to them is ruled by harpies who attack them. A harpie named Celaeno tells them to leave and gives Aeneas his first bad prophesy, that they will starve in Italy. However they move on following the western Greek mainland, they hold games in Actium and come upon Chaonia.

The Harpies Prophecy “Are you ready to bring war to us, sons of Laomedon, is it war, for the cows you killed, the bullocks you slaughtered, driving the innocent Harpies from their father’s country? Take these words of mine to your hearts then, and set them there. I, the eldest of the Furies, reveal to you what the all-powerful Father prophesied to Apollo, and Phoebus Apollo to me. Italy is the path you take, and, invoking the winds, you shall go to Italy, and enter her harbours freely: but you will not surround the city granted you with walls until dire hunger, and the sin of striking at us, force you to consume your very tables with devouring jaws.”

Aeneas escaping Troy

Chaonia... When in Chaonia Aeneas find Andromache, at first she believes he is dead, but is eventually welcomed by her and Helenus. Helenus, a priest of Apollo gives Aeneas yet another prophecy, warns him of Charybdus and Scylla and tells him to sail around Sicily. They send Aeneas on his way, but not before Andromache speaks to Ascanius about how much she reminds him of her former son. After they leave, they see they pass Italy and Charybdus and stop to refresh, only to have a man named Achaemenedes wander out of the woods and warn them of Polyphemus.

... to Sicily Polyphemus the comes out with his flock, blinded by Ulysses and plunges himself in the sea to wash his eye. The Trojans, silently as possible set sail, Polyphemus notices them but can do very little due to his eye. The Trojans then land on Sicily, where Anchises dies and Aeneas ends his story in sorrow.

Helenus’ Prophecy “When, in your distress, you find a huge sow lying on the shore, by the waters of a remote river, under the oak trees, that has farrowed a litter of thirty young, a white sow, lying on the ground, with white piglets round her teats, that place shall be your city, there’s true rest from your labours. And do not dread that gnawing of tables, in your future: the fates will find a way, Apollo will be there at your call.”