1. Introduction: The Eneida is an epic written in Latin by Publio Virgil Sturgeon more known as Virgil, in the 1st century
B.C.. This work did not arise spontaneously, was written by order of the August Emperor, who turned Rome into an Empire and who wanted that they all were thinking that Rome had a mythical and Divine origin.
The most popular Poem of this time was The Ilíada, which counts the war of Aqueos and Trojans that it finishes with the victory of the first ones and the destruction of Troy, wherefrom some few ones manage to flee, between that there was the Prince Eneas therefore, Virgil departs from this one point and imitating to the Greek myths it counts this history that eventually will end in the birth of Rome. The work consists of almost ten thousand hexameters divided in twelve singings in which are reported the fall of Troy, Eneas''s trips and the definitive establishment of a Trojan colony in the Latium.
. Summary of the book:
Eneas, fled of Troy after having being burned by the aqueos. One took his father and his son to tracks, and his wife was following him to few steps. But she died in the darkness.
Eneas, desperado, embarked with other survivors in search of a new land. His hatred with Juno (Wife of Jupiter, Goddess reigns of the Olympus and mother of many gods) led him to sailing errantly for a long time.
In his trip it comes to the coasts of the north of Africa, in Carthage. There there was living the queen Dido, who fell in love with him for work of Cupid (the chubby little angel of the arch and the arrow son of Venus), in order that heforgot his late husband; then it retained it in long time.
The kingdom was hospitable and all the Trojans wanted to remain in Carthage, but Eneas knew that it was in Italy where it had to found his empire.
After his march, Dido scourged and instigated by the wicked harpies (horrible Creatures with woman''s head, body of bird, excellent singers but extremely wicked) committed suicide in a pyre with Eneas''s sword cursing forever his dear one, making him swear revenge to his village in order that it was destroying the children of his father, the Roman futures. (Of this form there is created the picture that justifies the eternal hatred between two peoples brothers, that of Carthage and that of Rome, which extracted mutually the dirt in the
Like many Greek heroes (Orpheus, Hercules, Odiseo and lately Xena) our hero Eneas, in his way must descend to the hells, there there meets his father, already dead, the one who him reveals that it will found a flourishing empire.
Eneas comes to the Latium, where there was governing the king Latino . This king had a daughter that there was calling herself Lavinia who had to marry Shift, which was a leader of a band of rebellious so called "Rútulos".
Nevertheless to the King Latino when the oracle consulted, him there had been prophesied that a man come from the sea would marry his daughter and would create a great empire.
Shift at the time and Eneas declared themselves the war because of the beautiful princess and they started battling during a good time.
It there was helping Eneas Venus (Goddess of the Love) but Shift was helped by Juno. Jupiter was not encouraging to grant the victory to any decree, therefore the war spreads and spreads.
Ultimately, Eneas kills to Shift in a combat and obtains Lavinia''s hand. Happy end and of step they found a kingdom that some day will turn into Rome.
3. Final note:
The Eneida is a classic book of the universal literature and has been a very popular work, especially in the Middle Ages and Eneas it turns into a hero of whom it was considered to be an honor to be a descendant (this way, Godofredo de Monmouth, in his History regum Britanniae will make get down the Britishers of Britus or Brutus, a descendant of Eneas). The author was so dear that enclosed it appears in the Divine Comedy as the dear guide of Dante for the rural hells.
It turns out curious therefore that the own Virgil, in his bed of death, has cried out vociferously, as one of his last desires, which The Eneida burns, probably it was giving him shame to have done propaganda to the emperor Augusto or to the Roman Empire or probably like he was very a perfectionist, he did not like it since the work had stayed ultimately. In any case it turns out evident that they did not notice him.
You can see also my following summaries that will help you to have a more complete picture:
- " The Ilíada, easy summary for students obliged to read it ": That would come to be the first part of this book since it counts the whole matter of the War of Troy, though his author is Homero.
- " The Odyssey, easy summary for students obliged to read it ": parallel History that counts the misfortunes of Odiseo or Ulises (King of Itaca allied of the aqueos) who after the war of Troy, has to conquer many dangers to come to his house, also of Homero.
Affectionate regards and ojalá serves all.
Atte. Sinopcat.