the Aeneid
Roman founding myth
The Aeneid is an epic poem by the Roman poet Virgil, written in the first century BCE.
It tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who escapes the fall of Troy and journeys to Italy, where his descendants will found Rome.
The poem deliberately echoes Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, positioning Rome as heir to Greek civilization: She's teaching the Aeneid this semester.
- VirgilClassical epic poet
- epic poetryExtended narrative in verse
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- TroyAncient Anatolian city
- Trojan WarLegendary Greek-versus-Troy conflict
Rome · Carthage · underworld · destiny · piety · Latin · odyssey · Homer · hero · exile · wandering · flames · shipwreck · gods · Jupiter · Venus · fate · founding