The AeneidThe Aeneid

And the Augustan IdeologyAnd the Augustan Ideology

Virgil’s Aeneid

Aeneas' Flight from Troy, 1598, Federico Barocci

Publius Vergilius Maro (70-19 BCE) Virgil

B. 70 BCE in Mantua 55 BCE – studied literature at Milan and Rome 49 BCE – Retired to Naples to study philosophy 41 BCE – lost his farm through the reforms of Antony and Octavian 40 BCE - befriended and assisted financially by Maecenas Wrote three major works: 1. The Eclogues, 2. The Georgics, 3. The

Aeneid Eclogues ( 40 – 35 BCE) = pastoral poetry Georgics (35-29 BCE) = panegyric of farm life and the character of

the Italian farmer Aeneid (29-19 BCE) = epic poem modeled on Homer, story of

Aeneas’ flight from Troy and his journey to Italy in order to become the progenitor of the Roman people

27 BCE – Young Romans given instruction in Virgil’s poetry 23 BCE – Virgil reads Aeneid 2,4, and 6 to Augustus and Octavia 19 BCE – Virgil dies while returning from Greece with Augustus;

Aeneid still unfinished; Ordered the Aeneid destroyed in his will but Augustus chose to have it published

Composition and Style of the Aeneid

Literary influences and models:Homer: Aeneid connected to Trojan

saga; written in epic meter (dactylic hexameter)

Aeneid a historical epic modeled on Quintus Ennius’ epic the Annals

Aeneid a more literary work than Homer’s (No mnemonic devices; no oral elements; intended to be read rather than recited from memory)

Organization of the Aeneid Divided into 12 books Entire epic can be divided into two parts Books 1-6 modeled on Homer’s Odyssey (The

hero’s wanderings at sea; encounters with mythical monsters; voyage to the underworld; searching for a home)

Books 7-12 inversion of Homer’s Iliad (Warfare; Trojans are besiegers and Latins are besieged; Aeneas vs. Turnus = Achilles vs. Hector; story is about the foundation of a city not the destruction of one)

Differences from Homer: 1. Aeneid not solely concerned with the heroic exploits of characters. 2. Aeneid is a “nationalist” epic, politically motivated

Summary of the Aeneid Story of Aeneas’ flight from Troy to found the Roman

race Book 1: The shipwreck in Carthage Book 2: Recounts the fall of Troy Book 3: Trojans lost at sea; encounter terrible monsters Book 4: Dido and Aeneas Book 5: Funeral games in Sicily; burning of the Trojan

ships Book 6: Voyage to the underworld; Aeneas learns the

future greatness of Rome Books 7-11: Juno stirs Turnus and the Latins to war; war

between Trojans (with Etruscan and Arcadian allies) and Rutulians

Book 12: Juno appeased; duel between Aeneas and Turnus; death of Turnus

The Roman Connection with Troy

Aeneas marries Lavinia, daughter of Latinus.

Aeneas founds Lavinium.Aeneas’ son (Ascanius, aka. Iulus)

founds Alba Longa.Alban kings; Aemulius & Numitor;

Rhea Silvia made pregnant by Mars; gives birth to Romulus & Remus.

Romulus founds Rome.

The Legend of Aeneas and the Trojan Migration Before Virgil

Hesiod Theogony, 1019ff (700 BCE) associated Latinus with Italy and the Etruscans – No association of Aeneas with Italy

Hellanicus of Lesbos (b. 490 BCE) – The first to record connection of Aeneas with Italy

Thucydides, 6.2 associates Trojan settlers with Sicily and Italy but does not mention Aeneas

Aeneas = venerated cultic figure in Eturia and Latium All of Rome’s earliest writers claim Roman descent from Aeneas

and his Trojans Cult centre at Lavinium (Varro, “ibi nostri penates sunt”) Q. Ennius (239-169 BCE) Q. Fabius Pictor (ca. 200 BCE) and M. Porcius Cato (234-149 BCE) Accepted part of Roman historiography Julius Caesar used the figure of Aeneas on his coins; claimed

descent from Iulus For details of the stages of the development of legend

see Wiseman

Augustus and the Aeneas MythAugustus and the Aeneas Myth

Vergil’s Aeneid is the perfect propaganda tool for Vergil’s Aeneid is the perfect propaganda tool for the Augustan Regime and its ideologythe Augustan Regime and its ideology

Connection through his adoptive father Iulius Connection through his adoptive father Iulius Caesar to Romulus, Iulus, Aeneas, Venus – divine Caesar to Romulus, Iulus, Aeneas, Venus – divine ancestry provides divine sanction and legitimizes ancestry provides divine sanction and legitimizes his and Rome’s rule his and Rome’s rule

His connection to Romulus emphasizes his image His connection to Romulus emphasizes his image as the second/third founder of Romeas the second/third founder of Rome

Aeneas’ heroic qualities reflect Augustan ideology Aeneas’ heroic qualities reflect Augustan ideology

Aeneas as an Epic HeroAeneas as an Epic Hero

As a hero lacks the selfish characteristics of the As a hero lacks the selfish characteristics of the Homeric heroes; Homeric heroes;

He shares physical characteristics of traditional He shares physical characteristics of traditional Homeric heroes: he is bigger, better looking, Homeric heroes: he is bigger, better looking, braver than ordinary people, and queens fall in braver than ordinary people, and queens fall in love with them, and they have love affairs. love with them, and they have love affairs.

Aeneas is more concerned with the future of Aeneas is more concerned with the future of Rome (good of the community) patriotism; Rome (good of the community) patriotism; pietaspietas (for family, gods, Rome) (for family, gods, Rome)

For his duty to found the Roman people, he For his duty to found the Roman people, he sacrifices himself (his love for Dido)sacrifices himself (his love for Dido)

Aeneas as the typical heroAeneas as the typical hero

““But queen Dido long since had been But queen Dido long since had been nourishing deep in her veins the wound of a nourishing deep in her veins the wound of a love that gnawed her with hidden fire. There love that gnawed her with hidden fire. There recurred to her mind his great courage, the recurred to her mind his great courage, the equally great nobility of his descent; his equally great nobility of his descent; his face and his words remained fixed in her face and his words remained fixed in her breast; her concern gave no rest to her breast; her concern gave no rest to her limbs.” limbs.” Vergil Aeneid, Book 4. 1-4. L. R. Lind, translatorVergil Aeneid, Book 4. 1-4. L. R. Lind, translator

““There came up the Trojans and happy Iulus; There came up the Trojans and happy Iulus; Aeneas, more handsome than any, had joined the Aeneas, more handsome than any, had joined the company ..” company ..” Vergil, The Aeneid, 4.135-6, L. R. Lind, translatorVergil, The Aeneid, 4.135-6, L. R. Lind, translator

But: he hasBut: he has pietas pietas – the quality – the quality of a of a

Roman heroRoman hero “ “ Then come, my dear father, let them place Then come, my dear father, let them place

you upon my back. I shall carry you on my you upon my back. I shall carry you on my shoulder: your weight is not heavy. Let little shoulder: your weight is not heavy. Let little Iulus walk beside me, my wife keep her Iulus walk beside me, my wife keep her distance a long way behind.” Vergil, distance a long way behind.” Vergil, AeneidAeneid, , Book 2. 748-751, L.R. Lind, translatorBook 2. 748-751, L.R. Lind, translator

““But Father Anchises, deep in a blooming But Father Anchises, deep in a blooming valley, ..When he saw Aeneas approaching toward valley, ..When he saw Aeneas approaching toward him through the grass, he stretched eager hands him through the grass, he stretched eager hands toward his son, his cheeks bathed with tears, and toward his son, his cheeks bathed with tears, and managed to utter this word: “You have come at last, managed to utter this word: “You have come at last, that loyalty (pietas) which I knew has conquered that loyalty (pietas) which I knew has conquered your difficult course.” Vergil, The Aeneid, book your difficult course.” Vergil, The Aeneid, book 6.687-694, L.R. Lind, translator 6.687-694, L.R. Lind, translator

A Patriotic HeroA Patriotic Hero “ “ My queen, I shall never deny you are perfectly My queen, I shall never deny you are perfectly

right when you list all the favors you’ve done me. I right when you list all the favors you’ve done me. I shall never be loth to remember Elissa, as long as shall never be loth to remember Elissa, as long as my memory holds, while my breath still governs my memory holds, while my breath still governs these limbs. I shall speak to the point,. I did not hope these limbs. I shall speak to the point,. I did not hope to conceal my departure by shabby deceit (do not to conceal my departure by shabby deceit (do not think that) nor ever pretended to be your husband or think that) nor ever pretended to be your husband or entered such bonds. If the Fates should allow me to entered such bonds. If the Fates should allow me to lead my life at my will, and it were my own to settle lead my life at my will, and it were my own to settle my cares as I wished, I should cherish Troy city and my cares as I wished, I should cherish Troy city and first the remnants of my loved ones. If Priam’s tall first the remnants of my loved ones. If Priam’s tall roofs remained, I should have restored Troy’s citadel roofs remained, I should have restored Troy’s citadel after the conquest. But Grynean Apollo has ordered after the conquest. But Grynean Apollo has ordered me to great Italy, to seize it according to his Lycian me to great Italy, to seize it according to his Lycian prophecy: this is my love, this my country.” prophecy: this is my love, this my country.” Vergil, The Vergil, The Aeneid, Book 4.333-345 (L. R. Lind, translator)Aeneid, Book 4.333-345 (L. R. Lind, translator)

Heroic Values and Augustan Heroic Values and Augustan ideologyideology

““In my sixth and seventh consulships, after I had In my sixth and seventh consulships, after I had put an end to the civil wars, having obtained put an end to the civil wars, having obtained supreme power by universal consent, I transferred supreme power by universal consent, I transferred the state from my own power to the control of the the state from my own power to the control of the senate and people. For this service I received the senate and people. For this service I received the title of Augustus by decree of the senate, and title of Augustus by decree of the senate, and doorposts of my house were publicly decked with doorposts of my house were publicly decked with laurels, the civic crown was affixed to my doorway, laurels, the civic crown was affixed to my doorway, and a golden shield was set up in the Julian senate and a golden shield was set up in the Julian senate house, which, as the inscription on this shield house, which, as the inscription on this shield testifies, the Roman senate and people gave me in testifies, the Roman senate and people gave me in recognition of my valorrecognition of my valor (virtus) (virtus), clemency, clemency (clementia)(clementia), justice, justice (iustitia) (iustitia), and devotion, and devotion (pietas)(pietas).” .” (Augustus, Res Gestae, 34. Lewis & Reinhold, 1966)(Augustus, Res Gestae, 34. Lewis & Reinhold, 1966)

Principal Themes in the Principal Themes in the AeneidAeneid

Augustan Values (Clemency, Piety, Augustan Values (Clemency, Piety, Justice, and Virtue) – all are values Justice, and Virtue) – all are values embodied in the character of Aeneas embodied in the character of Aeneas

Justification of the regime Justification of the regime Justification of Rome’s empireJustification of Rome’s empireRomanizing the Homeric epics Romanizing the Homeric epics

Justification of the RegimeJustification of the Regime

The epic articulates the divine The epic articulates the divine ancestry and line between Aeneas ancestry and line between Aeneas and Augustus and Augustus

Justifies the war against Antony as a Justifies the war against Antony as a war between Italy and Egypt (Roman war between Italy and Egypt (Roman values versus decadence of the East) values versus decadence of the East)

The rule of Augustus has been The rule of Augustus has been divinely fateddivinely fated

The The Julian GensJulian Gens in in the Aeneidthe Aeneid ““But the boy Ascanius, who bears also the name But the boy Ascanius, who bears also the name

of Iulus – for he was Ilus while Troy’s kingdom of Iulus – for he was Ilus while Troy’s kingdom still stood – shall fulfill the rule of Aeneas in still stood – shall fulfill the rule of Aeneas in thirty long years.” thirty long years.” Virgil, Virgil, AeneidAeneid, 1. 269-273, L.R. Lind, translator, 1. 269-273, L.R. Lind, translator

““A Trojan Caesar shall spring from a noble A Trojan Caesar shall spring from a noble source/To bound his rule with Ocean, his fame source/To bound his rule with Ocean, his fame with the stars, Iulius, a name descended from with the stars, Iulius, a name descended from great Iulus.” great Iulus.” (Virgil, (Virgil, AeneidAeneid, 1. 291-293 ) , 1. 291-293 )

This race and your Romans, Here Caesar and all of the This race and your Romans, Here Caesar and all of the clan of Iulus will come to the great vault of heaven. This clan of Iulus will come to the great vault of heaven. This man, this is he whom again and again you have heard man, this is he whom again and again you have heard in the promise of prophecy, Caesar Augustus, son of a in the promise of prophecy, Caesar Augustus, son of a god.”god.”

Vergil, Aeneid, 6. 795-798, LR. Lind, TranslatorVergil, Aeneid, 6. 795-798, LR. Lind, Translator

Rome’s DestinyRome’s Destiny Jupiter: “For these I shall set no limits of time or Jupiter: “For these I shall set no limits of time or

possessions; I have given them endless power. possessions; I have given them endless power. Vergil, TheVergil, The Aeneid, 1. 282-284 Aeneid, 1. 282-284

“ “Others will fashion the molten bronze with more Others will fashion the molten bronze with more skill )at least I believe this), will carve from skill )at least I believe this), will carve from marble live faces, will plead cases better, and marble live faces, will plead cases better, and sketch out the paths of the heavenly bodies with sketch out the paths of the heavenly bodies with pointers, and forecast the rising of stars. You, pointers, and forecast the rising of stars. You, Roman, remember to govern the peoples with Roman, remember to govern the peoples with power (these arts shall be yours), to establish the power (these arts shall be yours), to establish the practice of peace, spare the conquered, and beat practice of peace, spare the conquered, and beat down the haughty.” down the haughty.” Vergil, Aeneid, 6.856-862, L.R. Lind, Vergil, Aeneid, 6.856-862, L.R. Lind, translatortranslator

Justifying the Past – The Enmity Justifying the Past – The Enmity with Carthagewith Carthage

Dido to Juno: “ ..and hear my Dido to Juno: “ ..and hear my request. ..Then O Tyrians, exercise hate request. ..Then O Tyrians, exercise hate toward his race and posterity and give this toward his race and posterity and give this reward to my ashes. Let there be no love, reward to my ashes. Let there be no love, no treaty between his people and ours. Let no treaty between his people and ours. Let some avenger arise from these bones of some avenger arise from these bones of mine to harry the Dardan settlers with fire mine to harry the Dardan settlers with fire and sword now or in future, whenever they and sword now or in future, whenever they grow to strength. Let shore be opposed to grow to strength. Let shore be opposed to shore, our waves against theirs, our arms shore, our waves against theirs, our arms against theirs; let them and their offspring against theirs; let them and their offspring fight.” fight.” Vergil, Aeneid 4. 619-637, L.R. Lind, translatorVergil, Aeneid 4. 619-637, L.R. Lind, translator

Justifying the RegimeJustifying the RegimeThe Shield of AeneasThe Shield of Aeneas

““In the middle a bronze-clad fleet at the battle of In the middle a bronze-clad fleet at the battle of Actium. You could have discerned all Leucate aboil Actium. You could have discerned all Leucate aboil with ranked ships, the waves shining in gold. Here with ranked ships, the waves shining in gold. Here was Caesar Augustus, who led the Italian navy, was Caesar Augustus, who led the Italian navy, with the Senate, the People, the Little Gods and the with the Senate, the People, the Little Gods and the Greadt, standing high on the stern; twin flames Greadt, standing high on the stern; twin flames flashing out at his temples; on his head shone the flashing out at his temples; on his head shone the star of his father. At one side Agrippa with the help star of his father. At one side Agrippa with the help of the winds and the gods led his towering of the winds and the gods led his towering squadron, the proud ensign of war, the beaked squadron, the proud ensign of war, the beaked naval crown, on his temples. Here Antony sailed naval crown, on his temples. Here Antony sailed with barbarian forces and varied arms,the victor with barbarian forces and varied arms,the victor from lands of morning, the Red Sea and farthest from lands of morning, the Red Sea and farthest Bactria; his Egyptian wife - O sinful! – came Bactria; his Egyptian wife - O sinful! – came following.”following.”

Vergil, The Aeneid, 8.685-700, L. R. Lind, translator.Vergil, The Aeneid, 8.685-700, L. R. Lind, translator.

The Gods become Roman The Gods become Roman GodsGods

The Shield of AeneasThe Shield of Aeneas “ “ The queen in the middle with her ancestral sistrum marshalled The queen in the middle with her ancestral sistrum marshalled

her fleet; not yet did she see twin asps at her back. Dog-barker her fleet; not yet did she see twin asps at her back. Dog-barker Anubis and the monsters of all kinds of gods held their weapons Anubis and the monsters of all kinds of gods held their weapons against Neptune and Venus, against Minerva. Mars raged in the against Neptune and Venus, against Minerva. Mars raged in the middle of battle, embossed in steel, and fierce Furies out of the middle of battle, embossed in steel, and fierce Furies out of the heavens; and Discord, striding in tattered robes, rejoiced. Bellona heavens; and Discord, striding in tattered robes, rejoiced. Bellona came after her, swining a bloody whip. Apollo of Actium, viewing came after her, swining a bloody whip. Apollo of Actium, viewing the scene, bent his bow from above Each Egyptian, every Indian, the scene, bent his bow from above Each Egyptian, every Indian, all the Arabs and all the Sabaeans turned tail in fear. The queen all the Arabs and all the Sabaeans turned tail in fear. The queen herself could be seen, having called on the winds, to set sail as herself could be seen, having called on the winds, to set sail as she loosed the slackening ropes more and more. The Mighty-With-she loosed the slackening ropes more and more. The Mighty-With-Fire had pictured her, pale at the death which was coming, amid Fire had pictured her, pale at the death which was coming, amid the slaughter as she sailed through the waves rolled up from the the slaughter as she sailed through the waves rolled up from the West-North-West. Before her the Nile, grief-stricken in that huge West-North-West. Before her the Nile, grief-stricken in that huge body, spread open his robe and called her with all of his garments body, spread open his robe and called her with all of his garments to rest on is blue bosom, the vanquished to hide in his secret to rest on is blue bosom, the vanquished to hide in his secret streams. But Caesar, borne through Rome’s walls in a triple streams. But Caesar, borne through Rome’s walls in a triple triumph, was making a deathless vow to Italian gods: He would triumph, was making a deathless vow to Italian gods: He would build three hundred great temples throughout the whole city…” build three hundred great temples throughout the whole city…” Vergil, Aeneid, 8. 706-727, L.R. Lind, translatorVergil, Aeneid, 8. 706-727, L.R. Lind, translator

Troy Returns to ItalyTroy Returns to Italy

Apollo: “ Long-suffering Dardanians, the Apollo: “ Long-suffering Dardanians, the land which first bore you from parent-land which first bore you from parent-stock will take you back with joyful breast. stock will take you back with joyful breast. Seek out your ancient mother.” (Aeneid Seek out your ancient mother.” (Aeneid 3.107-110)3.107-110)

King Latinus: “.I remember – the story has King Latinus: “.I remember – the story has grown somewhat dim with the years – that grown somewhat dim with the years – that the elder Auruncans were accustomed to the elder Auruncans were accustomed to tel how Dardanus, risen among these tel how Dardanus, risen among these fields, had travelled to Idaean cities of fields, had travelled to Idaean cities of Phrygia and Thracian Samos, now called Phrygia and Thracian Samos, now called Samothracia. (Aeneid 7.218-221)Samothracia. (Aeneid 7.218-221)

The Gods of the The Gods of the AeneidAeneid

Fate plays a very important roleFate plays a very important role The gods have a very ambiguous role, The gods have a very ambiguous role,

they are the guardians of morality, justice, they are the guardians of morality, justice, law and orderlaw and order

We can see many influences by philosophy We can see many influences by philosophy on views of gods, death and the afterlife in on views of gods, death and the afterlife in the Aeneid. the Aeneid.

Everything is controlled by Fate – divine Everything is controlled by Fate – divine cosmic order with no room for individual cosmic order with no room for individual free will. free will.

The Divine Cosmic orderThe Divine Cosmic order

Jove: “Do not fear, Cytherea; the Jove: “Do not fear, Cytherea; the fate of your people remains fate of your people remains unchanged. You will see the city and unchanged. You will see the city and promised walls of Lavinium rise”. promised walls of Lavinium rise”. (Aeneid, 1. 265-266)(Aeneid, 1. 265-266)

““for these (the Romans) I shall set no for these (the Romans) I shall set no limits of time or possessions; I have limits of time or possessions; I have given them endless power.” (Aeneid, given them endless power.” (Aeneid, 283-285)283-285)