1. Religions 14: Virgil’s Aeneid, 8.337-361, 608-731

2. Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro (ca. 70-19 BCE)
Other works: Eclogues (pastoral poetry) and Georgica/Georgics (didactic poem about farming)
Aeneid: epic meant to imitate and emulate Homer (intertexuality)
Books 1-6: wanderings (cf. Odyssey)
Books 7-12: fighting for home in Italy (cf. Iliad)
Juno fights against Aeneas (cf. Poseidon in Od.) and is helped by Venus (cf. Athena in Od.), his mother (Venus + Anchises = Aeneas, direct line to Romulus and Rhemus)

3. Contents
1st half: Begins in medias res with shipwreck of Aeneas in Africa; after Dido and Aeneas, A. lands in Italy, sees Sibyl and goes to Underworld (future of Rome)
2nd half: fight between Aeneas and Turnus (Latins); in book 8 he visits Evander (Arcadian king), who lives on the future site of Rome and becomes the ally of the Trojans against the Latins; there Aeneas sees prediction of future when he receives shield from his mother

4. Themes Strong political overtones: Connection of Troy to Rome
Underlining of Roman values (pietas): Aeneas chooses for collective rather than individual motivations (love) and brings penates to Italy
Explanation of Punic wars
Influence of contemporary Augustan propaganda (written in first decade of Augustus’ reign)