The Aeneid

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

228

Title

The Aeneid

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Virgil's epic chronicles Aeneas's arduous journey from the fallen Troy to Italy, driven by fate against Juno's relentless opposition. Translated by Dryden, this version captures the grandeur of Roman destiny, the tragic romance of Dido, and the solemn rites of war, offering a timeless exploration of duty, loss, and the founding of a new civilization.

Summary up to 500 words

Virgil's *The Aeneid* chronicles the arduous journey of Aeneas, a Trojan prince exiled from his burning homeland, as he fulfills his destiny to found a new empire in Italy. The epic opens with the Trojan fleet fleeing the ruins of Troy, only to be battered by a catastrophic storm orchestrated by the goddess Juno, who seeks to prevent the rise of Rome. Although Neptune calms the seas, the survivors reach the harbor of Carthage in Africa. There, Aeneas encounters Queen Dido, whose passion for him is divinely instigated by Venus, Aeneas's mother, to delay his departure. Juno's interference ensures Aeneas remains in Carthage long enough for Dido to build a city, only for her tragic death to follow when Aeneas is compelled by fate to leave. The narrative then shifts to the war in Latium. Aeneas fights against the tyrant Mezentius and his champion, Turnus. Following Mezentius's death, Aeneas mourns the loss of his young friend Pallas, sending his body home to Evander. A brief truce allows for the burial of the dead, but the conflict resumes with a fierce duel between Aeneas and Turnus. During the fight, Turnus accidentally strikes an olive tree sacred to Faunus. His sister, Juturna, attempts to save him by restoring his sword, but Jupiter rebukes her intervention. A Fury then terrifies Turnus, causing him to drop his weapon. Exhausted and despairing, Turnus begs for mercy. Aeneas hesitates, but upon seeing Turnus wearing the belt Pallas had given him, he is enraged by this sacrilege. Aeneas kills Turnus, ending the war. The epic concludes with the establishment of peace and the promise of Rome's future glory. Through the struggles of Aeneas and the interventions of the gods, Virgil explores themes of duty, fate, and the cost of empire, culminating in the founding of the city that would become Rome.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Poetry