Virgil’s poetic masterpiece, The Aeneid, tells of the plight of Aeneas and a group of Trojans as they sail across the Mediterranean Sea in search of Rome. Their homeland, the city of Troy, has been destroyed by the Greeks. As the group near closer to their destination, they are thrown off course by a ferocious storm and end up docked on in Carthage. Despite their uninvited arrival, Aeneas and his group are welcomed by Dido, the queen and founder of Carthage. Aeneas and Dido discuss, in great lengths, the tragic and tiresome journey that the group has experienced thus far.
Aeneas relates to her the story of the sack of Tray that brought the Trojan war to a halt after nearly a decade under siege by the Greeks. In the end, the Trojans were duped when they accepted a ‘gift’ of a wooden horse, that once passed the city walls, was found to host many Greek soldiers. He shares with her how he was able to flee the burning city, along with his father and his son, and also tells of the gods that represent their lost city.
Aeneas had been promised by the gods that should he set sail for Italy, he would be met by the promise of a fruitful future. Based on this, he gathered the remaining inhabitants of Troy and set sail. The group was met with several challenges along the way. On more than one occasion, they had attempted to rebuild their fallen city, only to be chased away by plagues and curses. They had been hexed by Harpies; half women half bird creatures. However, that was not to say that they had not encountered friendly men as well. It wasn’t until the loss of his father, Achises, and a course of horrible weather, that they had made their way to Carthage.
Notably impressed by the tales of Aeneas’s travels and adventures, Dido was sympathetic to the suffering that the group had endured. She herself, a Pheonician Princess by birth, had been forced to flee her home after her husband met an untimely fate at the hands of her own brother. It wasn’t long after the group’s arrival to Carthage that Dido fell in love with Aeneas. The pair cohabitated as lovers, briefly, until Aeneas receives a reminder from the gods that his main purpose is to build a new city to replace the one that his people had lost. With this in mind, he pledges to set sail. The news of her lover’s departure causes great despair for Dido, who orders a massive pyre to be constructed with the possessions that Aeneas had left behind. Upon completion, Dido climbs upon the pyre, takes out a sword that had belonged to her lost love, and kills herself.
The Trojans battle a scourge of bad weather along their course for Italy, and again find themselves blown off course – this time ending up in Sicily. Here they host funeral games to celebrate the honor of Anchises. The female Trojans, irritated with the journey, band together and set fire to the ships, however, the fires dissipate when it begins to rain. Many of the sick, and those who can no longer bare to travel, stay behind, while Aeneas – who is refreshed after a spiritly visit from his father – continue on towards Italy.
As they arrive, Aeneas is taken to the underworld by the Sibyl of Cumae, with the promise of visiting his father. He is witness to the pageant of the future and the heroes of Rome. This vision will aid him in better understanding the immense importance of his mission. After returning from the underworld, the Trojans continue their journey and travel up the coast of Latium.
Initially, their arrival to Italy is a peaceful one. The leader of Italy, King Latinus, offers his hospitality to the group, believing that Aeneas is the foreigner that was said to marry his daughter, Lavinia, in a prophecy. However, the king’s wife, Amata, has other plans. She wishes for their daughter to wed Turnus, a local gentleman. Amata, along with Turnus, begin to plot against the Trojan. Meanwhile, the son of Aeneas, Ascanius, accidentally kills the pet of a local herdsman, mistaking it for a wild stag. This accidental hunt prompt a fight between the Trojans and a group of locals and several people lose their lives. Turnus uses this as an opportunity to wage war against the newcomers.
At the suggestion of the river god, Tiberinus, Aeneas sets sail northward to request the aid of the military and also neighboring tribes. On his journey, he is gifted a new set of weapons from his mother, Venus. These are delivered by Vulcan. Using the absence of the Trojan leader as an opportunity to attack, Turnus instructs his men to take down the Trojans. When Aeneas returns, he finds his countrymen entwined in battle. When Pallas, the son of one of Aeneas’s newest friends, Evander, is murdered by Turnus, Aeneas flies into a fit of rage, and the bodies of the fallen continue to add up.
Not wanting to see any more men lose their lives, the two sides agree to come to a truce so that they may bury the fallen. In a bid to spare any further unnecessary destruction, the leaders agree to a fight to the death between Turnus and Aeneas. As the men prepare to dual, however, their supporters begin to argue and a full blown battle ensues. Aeneas receives a slight wound, but the Trojans still have control. As they rush the enemy city, Turnus rushes out to fight Aeneas, who conflicted with the decision to spare Turnus; however, Aeneas ends up delivering a fatal blow after remembering how his opponent had killed Pallas.
