1. The Aeneid by Virgil
Another Epic Poem

2. The Other Side of the Epic Poem
The Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas, a hero of Troy, a city in Asia Minor, that the Greeks destroyed during the Trojan War.

3. What Happened to the Losers?
According to legend, Aeneas survived the war and led a group of Trojans on a journey to the kingdom of Latium in central Italy, where Rome eventually arose.

4. I Need A Hero!
The story of Aeneas is much older than the founding of Rome. This hero appears as a character in the Iliad, an epic poem about the Trojan War, written by Homer.
However, as Rome was emerging as the leading power in the Mediterranean around the 200s BC, the Romans became eager to claim Aeneas and the Trojans as their ancestors.

5. It’s What Legends are Made From
Aeneas was an ideal figure to serve as the legendary founder of Rome.
As the son of Venus (Aphrodite), the goddess of love, and Anchises, a member of the Trojan royal family, he had both divine and royal parents.
In addition, the ancient tales portrayed Aeneas as dutiful, pious, brave, and honorable—virtues that the Romans felt characterized their culture.
Finally, Aeneas was part of the Greek heritage so admired by the Romans. However, because he was a Trojan rather than a Greek, he provided the Romans with a distinct identity that was not Greek, but equally ancient and honorable.

6. The Story and Its Significance.
In Book 1 of the Aeneid, Aeneas and his followers arrive in Carthage in North Africa after escaping a storm sent by Juno (Hera), the queen of the gods.
Early in the story, the author, Virgil, establishes the fact that Juno does her best to ruin Aeneas's plans because of her hatred for the Trojans, while Venus supports him.
Jupiter (Zeus), the king of the gods, reveals that Aeneas will ultimately reach Italy and that his descendants will found a great empire.
This is the first of many prophecies in the Aeneid. Their meaning is clear: Rome rules the world because it is fated to do so and has the support of the gods.

7. The Story and Its Significance
In Book 2, Aeneas tells Dido, the queen of Carthage, about the Greek victory in the Trojan War and how he escaped the city.
In Book 3, Aeneas describes to Dido the earlier attempts by the Trojan survivors to found a city.
Book 4 reveals that Dido is in love with Aeneas, and the two become lovers.
Unfortunately, fate has other plans for the Trojan leader. Jupiter sends Mercury (Hermes), the messenger of the gods, to remind Aeneas that his destiny lies in Italy. After Aeneas and his followers leave Carthage, Dido kills herself in despair. This episode shows Aeneas's willingness to sacrifice his own desires to obey the will of the gods. It also creates a legendary explanation for the very real hostility between Carthage and Rome.

8. The Story and Its Significance
In Book 5 of the Aeneid, the Trojans reach Sicily, an island off the coast of Italy, and Aeneas organizes funeral games to honor the death of his father, Anchises.
While the games are in progress, Juno (Hera) attempts to destroy the Trojan fleet, but Jupiter saves most of the ships and the Trojans depart.
In Book 6, the Trojans arrive at Cumae in Italy, and Aeneas visits the shrine of the Cumaean Sibyl, a famous oracle. She leads him on a visit to the underworld, where he meets the ghost of his father. Another prophecy reveals to Aeneas the greatness that Rome will achieve in the future.

9. The Story and Its Significance
Books 7 through 11 tell of the Trojans' arrival in Latium, the kingdom of the Latins in western Italy. The newcomers are welcomed at first, but then war breaks out between the Trojans and the Latin tribes, sparked by the meddling of Juno. Venus helps Aeneas by giving him a new set of armor and weapons bearing images of Rome's future glory. Jupiter then forbids the gods to interfere further.
The final book of the Aeneid recounts the mighty single combat between Aeneas and the Latin hero Turnus, the Trojans' chief opponent.
Aeneas wins the fight and is free to marry Lavinia, daughter of the Latin King Latinus. Their marriage symbolizes the union between the Latin and Trojan peoples, and their descendants are the first Romans.

10. The Influence of the Aeneid
Romans loved the poem. It gave them an impressive history and justified the proud expectation that they were destined to rule the world
Yet even after the Roman empire fell, people continued to read and admire the Aeneid.
Influenced future literary works, including the changing of the names of Greek gods to Roman names.