The Aeneid: Foundation of Rome

The Aeneid’s showcasing of the foundation of Rome and off Roman culture.

            Aeneid was a mythological story passed down over generations about Rome; the story was written down by Virgil. The Aeneid was the successor to the Odyssey and the Iliad. The Aeneid’s main character is Aeneas. The Aeneid is culturally relevant because it is the foundational story of the Roman religion and Roman culture and tells the story of the founding of Rome. It is additionally important because it proves to us that the Dark Ages of the Mediterranean occurred after the Aeneid took place.

I just finished the Aeneid; however, it is extremely difficult to read, and I also have not had previous exposure to this particular story. However, it is the story of the Trojans who left Troy to go to found Rome. Specifically, it is the mythological story of the foundation of Rome.  The founder of ancient Rome in the Aeneid was a character named Aeneas. Written by Livy, it was about Romulus and Remus. Aeneas was a Trojan and was the leader of the expedition. Aeneas and the rest of the Trojans were given a peace deal that allowed them to leave Troy and settle elsewhere.  The Trojan refugees took some ships and travelled to Italy from the coast of Turkey. The surviving Trojans took seven ships to go to Italy/Lavinia, and they founded the city of Rome on the Palatine Hill. Aeneas led his people to the terrible tragedy of the destruction of Troy. He mourned its loss and vowed with his queen to create a new place for the survivors of the destruction of Troy.

The Aeneid touches on ancient Roman myths, the “Sea Peoples”, and the “Dark Ages of the Mediterranean.” The Aeneid touches on Roman myths including the Minotaur, the Land of the Dead, and the Cyclops Cave.  The Aeneid touches on the ancient Mediterranean before the real devastation of the Dark Ages happened, which shows that the Aeneid happened before the “Sea Peoples” had invaded the Minoan island of Crete. Aeneas visits the island of Crete in the Aeneid, and the island of Crete is still functioning; this shows that the Aeneid happened before the Mediterranean Dark Ages.

The Aeneid is important because it defines Roman culture, mythology, and the story of Rome. It shows us that there is a deep grievance against the Greeks for sacking Troy. Aeneas grieves the loss of Troy and lays a strong foundation for Rome on the Palatine Hill. Aeneas is a solid protagonist whom the Greeks respect, which allows him to leave the area of Troy and found the city of Rome on the Palatine Hill. The Aeneid contributes to Roman culture by mentioning the Land of the Dead and the Minotaur’s island of Crete.

Bibliography:

Virgil. The Aeneid. Translated by Robert Fagles. Introduction by Bernard Knox. New York: Penguin Classics, 2006.