A study of two killings of young
warriors form the crux of the military drama in the battle between the Trojans and Latins.
These
killings in Homer's 'The Iliad' and Virgil's 'The Aeneid', despite their similarities, are viewed in entirely different ways from a literary perspective. The Aeneid is in many ways a re-tread of Homer's Iliad, and Turnus' killing of Pallas is reminiscent of Homer's Patroklos being cut down in his prime by Hector. In keeping with this
comparison, before his death, Pallas begins the battle of Book Ten by helping Aeneas, leading on the battle, and enabling Aeneas to gain a great advantage in the war. This comparison between the two works of literature is also indirectly reinforced when the Latin soldier Liger refers to the great warriors of the Greeks with disdain when taunting the Trojans.