The Maius Opus

Books VII-XII

Vergil and the Aeneid

During the first 40 years of Vergil’s life he lived during a time of continuous conflict

His work, the Aeneid, features key situations in which individuals create a life in common

e.g., Evander and Aeneas

Dido

Is there anything Roman about Dido?

Is she to blame for what happens?

Is Aeneas to blame for what happens?

Key Themes

Peace comes at a price

Danger is always at hand

Emphasis on the visual in Augustan culture

New ways for Romans to see themselves

See what they have in common with others

Us vs. Them, Part I

“Keiko was not one of our kind but nevertheless he was still one of us.”

(Veterinary Chaplain, Speaking at the Funeral of Keiko, A Killer Whale, Oregon, 2003)

 

Us vs. Them, Part II

“We found several sick and famished Indians, who begged hard for mercy and for food. It hurt my feelings; but the understanding was that all were to be killed. So we did the work.”

(Settler, Oregon, 1857)

Overview of Book VII

Aeneas arrives in Latium Latinus promises Lavinia in marriage to

Aeneas Juno and Allecto incite war Catalogue of Italians who are heroes

New Characters

Latinus, king of Latium

Lavinia, his daughter

Turnus, ruler of Rutulians

Mezentius, ruler of the Etruscans

Camillia, amazon like warrior who is allied with Turnus

Allecto, a Fury Latium is the place

where Aeneas will found Lavinium

Book VII – the halfway point

Erato is the muse chosen to start the book

She is the “lovely one” and she is the muse of love poetry

Book is about women and Vergil’s love of his native land

From Peace to War

When we first see Ostia, it is peaceful, but then it is transformed into a war camp, not a town

Warriors come from all over Italy to the camp

Ostia

From Troy to Rome

Aeneas goes to meet king Latinus, direct descendant of Saturn

Saturn founded Saturnia on the future site of Rome

Trojans have reached their final destination

Aeneas, Turnus and Lavinia

Lavinia is a second Helen AND a second Medea

War breaks out between the Latins and the Trojans

Will end up creating a dysfunctional family with Aeneas

Roman Marriage

Do not look for love in a marriage

Vergil says nothing of their marriage

Lavinia never says anything in this book

Will reappear in Book XII

The Terrifying Prediction VII.112-116 You won’t found your city until you eat

your tables

Aeneas and company are so hungry they eat the wheat cakes that hold their food

Is this sinister or funny?

Allecto’s Madness

She makes everyone mad

Amata Turnus the Italians are

angered by Ascanius killing a tame deer

Destroys relationships between men and women

Fills Turnus with rage – treaty is broken

Trojans are guilty of spilling first blood

The Gates of War

Gates flung open during times of war

Juno opens the gates

War has begun

Camilla – the equal of Turnus

Admired female warrior

Amazing physical powers

Huntress turned warrior

Ignored traditional female roles

Opposite of Dido?

Book VIII – plot summary

Aeneas goes to Evander, Evander promises Etruscan aid

Evander tells the story of Hercules

Venus asks Vulcan to make Aeneas’ armor

Hercules Temple at Rome

New Characters and Places

Evander, king of Pallanteum

Pallas, his son

Cacus, man eating monster

Actium, 31 BC, the critical victory of Octavian (soon to be Augustus) Caesar over the opposing forces of Marc Antony and Cleopatra: this is the central scene in Aeneas' shield

Community and Identity

Multiple versions of Rome’s foundations

Evander’s tour of the ancient city is reminiscent of the story of Romulus’ foundation

Violence can remove moral danger and and protect the established community

When Hercules kills Cacus, that is what he is doing

Evander’s humble home

Evander invites Aeneas into his home, which is reminiscent of Augustus’ house on the Palatine

The establishment of a moral, civilized community begins with good leadership

The Shield

Three values, iustitia, virtus, and pietas

All nations will bow down to Rome

Glory of the Roman Empire

Can Aeneas understand what he sees?

Book IX – Where’s Aeneas?

Main events include: Turnus attacks Nisus and Euryalus go on a night

mission Rage of Turnus – gets pushed out of

Trojan camp

Turnus and the Rutilians

When Turnus attacks the Trojan camp, Aeneas’ ships turn into nymphs and vanish

Turnus is happy – no escape.

Misreads the sign. Urges men to rest before battle resumes

Nisus and Euryalus

Longing for glory, Euryalus decide to sneak off to warn Aeneas, takes Nisus with him

Aeneas says they are a fortunate pair

What is fortunate about getting killed?

A Series of Unfortunate Events Night-time mission

Lust for Human slaughter and war-prizes

Gleam of helmet betrays a warrior

Interpretation of this episode

Death of young is part of war, may be tragic, but is necessary

Positive view of heroism – how you die defines how people perceive you

Deaths are not tragic as the pair gives in to hybris (excessive pride)

Issues Vergil raises in Book IX

What are the costs of war to women?

What does it mean to be human?

What does it mean to be a victor in war?

Book X- A Very Violent Episode 25 battle scenes – gory and violent Fighting continues Turnus kills Pallas Juno saves Turnus from Aeneas Aeneas kills Mezentius

Power of Furor (Anger)

Can the power of a future empire contain the furor?

Juno’s intervention in Turnus and Aeneas’ fight is rare for a battle scene in an epic

Scene between Jupiter and Hercules

The Sorrow of Hercules

Hercules weeps when he sees Pallas dying

Jupiter tells him that everyone has their day to die

Who is Hercules? Most human of gods Audience sees the death from two

perspectives at once Can anyone change fate?

Book Eleven

Burial of Pallas

Trojans attack

Death of Camilla

Deep Grief of Trojans for Pallas Mezentius is a bloody trophy, but Pallas

is a life tragically cut short Mourning Trojan women appear Robbed of the happy future of marriage

and children Death robs young warriors of their

future

Turnus’ anger

Turnus is depicted as being like a stallion who wants to rush into war

Aeneas is the opposite, he hates war and equates it with sorrow

Duty vs. Freedom

Death of Camilla

Bellatrix (warrior) Leaves her hunting for war, but she is

doomed. Promised a noble death Raised in woods as a wild girl who

drinks animals’ milk and even as a toddler had spear, bows and arrows

Respect for Camilla

Diana respects her decision to fight

Turnus puts her in charge of his men

Fights for her own reasons, even after she wants her share of the spoils (and dies fighting for them) she gets a hero’s death

Aeneid XII – The End

Turnus challenges Aeneas to fight

The Rutuli wound Aeneas

He is cured by Venus

Kills Turnus

The Fight

Aeneas trapped Turnus like a hunter traps a deer

Turnus is compared to Mars at the glory of his fighting

His death is humiliating

He offers Aeneas the chance to spare his life

Why Does Aeneas kill Turnus? Sees belt of Pallas and is enraged

Turnus must die to ensure the future

Aeneas gets to defy Juno’s wishes

Conclusions

This is a foundation story

About community and identity

What are the rules? Who can be in the community? Who is the enemy?