Background history and the
geography of the Aeneid
Historic events around the writing of the Aeneid
Map of the Ancient world
Historical events within the Aeneid
Travels of Aeneas
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.
Identify several places where the
Aeneid is set.
Map of the Ancient World (with Aeneas’
travels). COPY THIS MAP.
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
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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).
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) >>>
o c753 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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
 Juno’s 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.
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.