Historic events around the writing of the Aeneid Map of the
Ancient world Historical events within the Aeneid Travels of Aeneas
Background history and the geography of the Aeneid
Slide 2
Historical events around the writing of the Aeneid There is
around 500 years between the Trojan War and the mythological
founding of the Roman race in Lauretum. 2oo years between the
Trojan War (1250-1180 B.C.) and the founding of Carthage (1000
B.C.). -Yet Virgil places all these events at the same time. Battle
of Actium (31 B.C.) occurred three years before Virgil began to
write the Aeneid. Augustus defeated Antony and Cleopatra VII and
becomes Caesar of Rome.
Slide 3
Identify several places where the Aeneid is set.
Slide 4
Map of the Ancient World (with Aeneas travels). COPY THIS
MAP.
Slide 5
Races within the Aeneid (place the races in the appropriate
areas). Etruscans (north of Latium). Off the map. Greeks (also
called Achaeans, Argives, Danaans and Pelasgians). Latins (living
in Latium). Carthaginians (inhabitants of the Phoenician colony of
Carthage). Rutulians (a tribe of Latins lead by Turnus). Trojans
(known as Aeneadas, Teucrians or the followers of Aeneas).
Slide 6
Travels of Aeneas In order of places rather than in the order
of the books. c1200 B.C. ASIA MINOR (Troy) >>> c1200 B.C.
NORTH AFRICA (Carthage) >>> c1200 B.C. ITALY(Latium)
>>> oc753 B.C. ITALY (Lavinium, Alba Longa and Rome) Main
places visited by Aeneas in sequence Asia Minor: Troy, Mt Ida.
Eastern Greece: Thrace, Delos Is. Southern Greece: Crete. Western
Greece: Strophades Islands, Ithica, Actium, Buthrotum.
Slide 7
Travels of Aeneas: Main places visited cont. Eastern Italy:
Ceraunia (a mountain range in Epirus), Temple of Minerva. Sicily:
Mt. Etna, Drepanum (a city, north-west). North Africa: Carthage (a
Phoenician city port founded by Dido). Western Sicily: Drepanum.
Western Italy: Cumae (a Greek colony north of Naples, Sibyl was
consulted here), Caitam, Latium (west-central, area around Rome,
people known as Latins). Italy is also called Hesperia or
Ausonia.
Slide 8
Interactive map of the World of the Aeneid
http://gemini.utb.edu/achurch/AeneidTemplate.html Activity: look on
the web for a timeline of Roman history and copy important events
relevant to the Aeneid into your book. Activity: look up these
places of importance using the Divine Quest (Findlay) and the web:
Alba Longa, Hades, Laurentum, Lavinium, Mount Olympus and
Pallanteum.
Slide 9
Historical events within the Aeneid Virgil deliberately
included historical elements of the Trojan War along with the
setting of the Aeneid to explain aspects of recent history, for
example: Dido foretells the hatred between Carthage and Rome. (Book
IV, lines 365-387). Jupiter foresees the Caesar who will end the
Republic and bring about a new golden age. (Book I, lines
257-298).
Slide 10
Historical events within the Aeneid cont. In his speech,
Anchises points to most of the famous families of Rome and all the
historical figures from the Republic, the fall of the Republic and
the early empire. (Book III). Although there are many things on his
shield, the scene that stands out the most is that of the Battle at
Actium. (Book VIII). Junos pleas with Jupiter to have the new
people not named Trojans is a device meant to explain the
contemporary state of Rome. They had no Trojan features of language
or custom.
Slide 11
Historical elements within the Aeneid The time in which the
poem is set: 1250-1180 B.C. When the poem was written: 29-19 B.C.
Virgil manages to merge the two elements together by focusing on
the character Aeneas and the history of Rome. E.g. Aeneas detours
to Carthage and he falls in love with Queen Dido - Rome had a long
history with Carthage (Punic Wars). Virgil creates another reason
for these wars love turning to hate.