Virgil’s Aeneid: Book XII
Paul Chrzanowski; Zachary Seprish; Lindsey Bennett
synopsis.
It is decided by Latinus and Aeneas that Aeneas and Turnus will have one final fight to
decide who will claim the land of Italy. Going against the fate he knows very well
of and the pleas from both King Latinus and Queen Amata, Turnus goes on to have
the final fight with Aeneas. King Latinus works out a treaty in regard to Aeneas on
what the victor of the fight will earn. The next day both the armies of Aeneas and
Turnus gather to watch the final match of their leaders.
At this point, Juno is worried for the fate of Turnus, seeing now that Aeneas has
overcome so much and that he possibly can be the victor of this battle. Even when
the battle is this far from being over, Juno feels the need to intervene, and keep the
Trojans from being victorious. She calls upon Turnus’ god-like sister, Juturna to keep
her brother safe in the battle.
Aeneas and Turnus meet outside the gates of the city, both making their final prayers
and sacrifices to the gods. Turnus seems uneasy, which is shown in his behaviorism;
Aeneas seems unchanged by the fear of death. The men of Turnus’ army see this,
which allows Juturna’s intervention to be successful.
synopsis.
The river nymph disguises herself as the valiant warrior Camers, and quickly begins to
invoke the Rutulians to go against the pact made by their leader and the leader of
the enemy army. Using the method of putting the honor of the men at stake,
Juturna is able to rally the men enough for them to break out and charge the enemy
lines. The Latin Tolumnius is the first to be inspired by an omen saw within the sky,
and taking its meaning to heart he casts his spear which pierces directly into the
Trojan lines, taking the life of one solider and breaking the peace between the
armies. When the Trojans see this, they want nothing more than to seek vengeance
on the broken pact and immediately charge the Latins.
Aeneas is a witness to the blind rage his Trojans are in, and with calming words
attempts to pacify the anger his army is wrongly executing. When he pleads to his
men, however, an arrow sent from an unknown source grazes his leg, causing him to
retreat from the battle. Turnus takes the opportunity to break his sacred treaty
with Aeneas at this point, riding into battle and slaying as many Trojans as he can.
While Turnus ransacks the Trojan forces, Aeneas is in the camp, tending to his wound.
Even the physician cannot remove the arrow speared into his leader. Venus is
feeling pity for her son, and sends down aid to the physician so Aeneas can be
healed.
synopsis.
Fully healed, Aeneas suits up and returns to the battle field. Many of the Latins notice
this, and begin to scatter to avoid being slain by the great Aeneas. Both the Trojan
commander and the Latin Commander bring about the death of many opposing
soldiers, shifting the battle back and forth, but it is not until Aeneas realizes that the
city gates have been left unguarded that the battle begins to slide in the favor of the
Trojans.
Aeneas and a small army of men seize Latinum, which causes Queen Atama to end her
life. The people of the city panic, and it is only then that Turnus agrees to end the
bloodshed and fight out the battle how it was intended: a single duel between
Aeneas and himself. The two meet in the central courtyard of the city, troops
circling them. The duel as intended finally begins.
The battle beings with both of the mighty warriors casting their spears at each other,
with no successful hits as of yet. When Turnus lunges at Aeneas with his sword,
however, the blade breaks, leaving the soldier to call upon his sister for his real
blade. She completes the sword with assistance of Juno, which merits the concern
of Jupiter.
synopsis.
The King of Gods asks his wife why she continues to intervene in the battle when she
knows the fate of both Turnus and Aeneas. After some reconsideration, Juno
realizes that there is nothing she can do to prevent or overcome Fate. The Queen
of Gods gives in and agrees to forgive her grudge on both Aeneas and all of the
Trojans under one condition, which Jupiter gladly agrees to. And with that, Jove
sends a Fury in the form of a bird to weaken Turnus enough to be struck by one of
Aeneas’ spears. The wounded Latin begs for the mercy of Aeneas, who decides to
spare the enemy. However, as Aeneas agrees to spare Turnus, he catches eye of the
belt of Pallas, which ignites Aeneas’ fury, causing him to kill Turnus on the spot.
The End.
aeneas vs turnus.
climax of book xii.
The most significant event that we see occurring in Book XII is Juno surrendering
to Fate and allowing Turnus to be defeated once and for all. This event is most
significant due to the catharsis which occurs with the main antagonist to the epic
hero of the book. Throughout the entire book it was Juno who brought hardship to
Aeneas, and with her willing to give up her attempt to prevent the Fate of the hero
from coming true came about the end of the epic.
divine involvement.
..Juno seeks the help of Juturna..
Without Juno alerting Juturna that her brother will die right in front of her to the
hands of Aeneas, the Latin army would have never broken the treaty which was set for Turnus
and Aeneas to duel.
..Mysterious archer aiming for Aeneas..
Although no god or goddess took responsibility for the winged arrow which struck
Aeneas, neither did any of the Latin soldiers who surely would have boasted over such a feat.
The result of Aeneas being injured rallied the Latins some, which lead to the slaying of many
Trojan soldiers.
..Venus coming to her son’s aid..
Even a physician trained by the god of medicine himself was not able to dislodge the
winged arrow from Aeneas’ leg, and without the involvement of Venus the arrow would have
never been removed.
divine involvement.
..Juno realizes even the gods do not have authority over Fate..
When Jupiter asks why it is Juno continues to fight for Turnus when she
knows quite well it was Aeneas who was fated to win, she finally realizes she is
nothing above the almighty Fate, and once and for all forgives the Trojans of the
grudge she held for so long.
..Jove’s final omen..
Agreeing to the terms of Juno that as long as Latin kept its name and language she
would forgive the Trojans, Jove sends a Fury in the form of a bird to show it is time that
Turnus quits resisting the fate he knows will happen.
character analysis: mortals.

Aeneas
We learn in this book that Aeneas is a man of his word, and is willing to keep his word.
However, when the tables are turned on him, Aeneas can prove to be a very strong leader and
a danger to all enemies who stand in his path. In the very end, rage concurs over Aeneas’
humble personality.
Turnus
Turnus has the role of main mortal antagonist to Aeneas. He is competing with the Trojan for
both the city of Latium and the love of Lavainia. When Turnus was first introduced, he had a
very vain personality, but with the fall of Latinum along with other events we see a catharsis of
Turnus when he begs Aeneas to spare him.
Juturna
She has great love for her brother, and is willing to do anything within her power to keep him
safe. When Latium has fallen and Turnus is faced by Aeneas’ blade she breaks down, physically
beating herself from an overflow of emotions.
character analysis: mortals.

King Latinus
Hasn’t changed much since he was first introduced. His only request to Turnus was that
he surrendered to Aeneas, but Turnus’ pride was too strong to do so.
Queen Atama
Also begged for Turnus to not go into battle, but didn’t make any difference in his choice. She
hanged herself when the city of Latium fell to the Trojans.
Tomlunius
The soldier who casted a spear into the Trojan Ranks which resulted in the treaty between
the Latins and the Trojans to be broken.
character analysis: immortals.

Juno
She continues to try and sabotage Aeneas the best she can, but eventually Juno comes to
terms with the limits of her powers. She ends up dismissing the grudge she held against the
Trojans and Aeneas.
Jupiter
Helps Juno in understanding she is not above Fate, which essentially ends the conflict between
Aeneas and Juno.
Venus
Once again, Venus shows up to aid her son and prevent Juno from coming out on top.
significant dialogue.

Turnus > Amata
“'For I too, can cast a lance;
the steel my right hand uses is not feeble;
my father, blood flows from the wounds I deal.
The Trojan's goddess-mother will be too
far off to shelter her retreating son,
to hide him, as a woman would, within
the same deceiving cloud that covers her.”
 This is the answer to the pleas Amata and Latinus have given to Turnus about staying in the city of
Latium and defending its gates rather than fighting Aeneas head-to-head. Turnus is clearly full of himself,
but does prove the point that he is a strong warrior and might have the ability to hold his own against
Aeneas despite the odds.

Iapyx > Aeneas
“This is not the work
of mortal hands or skillful art; my craft
has not saved you, Aeneas: here there is
a greater one - a god- who sends you back
to greater labors.”
The physician who was responsible for removing the winged arrow from Aeneas admits to not having done
it on his own in this quote, and makes it evident that it was Aeneas’ goddess mother who did the
healing.
significant dialogue.



Aeneas > Ascanius
“From me, my son, learn valor and true labor[…]Now my arm will win security for you in
battle and lead you toward a great reward: only remember, when your years are ripe, your
people’s example; let your father and your uncle-both Hector and Aeneas-urge you on.”
Before returning to battle, Aeneas tells his son to watch and learn from him, for one day it
might be of use to him. This quote foreshadows that one day Ascanius will be a leader who
needs to have the skills his father can provide him with, but also must learn from other great
people of his history.
Turnus > Aeneas
“I have indeed deserved this; I do not
appeal against it; use your chance. But if
there is a thought of a dear parent's grief
that now can touch you, then I beg you, pity
old Daunus- in Anchises you had such
a father- send me back...”
Before Aeneas delivers the final blow which would end Turnus’ life, the Latin has a final plea
which Aeneas can directly to relate to. The theme of honoring family is represented when
Turnus speaks of he grief his father would have, and how he wishes not for that to be.
symbolisms.

Treaty
The treaty between Latinus and Aeneas shows that the King understands that Aeneas
will be the victor of the battle, and will be the one to prevail over Turnus.

Bird-related Omen
When the Latins catch sight of a golden-bird of Jove taking out a small bird in the air,
they take it as their sign to strike the unguarded Trojan forces.

Pallas’ Belt
When Aeneas already agreed to spare Turnus, his decision was altered when he caught
sight of the disrespect Turnus had for his comrade.

Latins
Juno agreed to forgive her grudge on the Trojans under the condition that they kept
the name of the city and the language the same. The Latins and their language were a symbol
of the Jupiter keeping his promise to Juno.
motifs.

Femme Fatal
Both Aeneas and Turnus are fighting for the love of Lavinia who is already destined to be the
wife of Aeneas.

Fate
The Fate of Aeneas has already been reviled and is understood by both the gods and the
mortals, but some still try to stand in the path of Aeneas from succeeding his sacred mission.

Fall of a City
It is when Latium falls that the Trojans’ are able to come out victorious in war.
figurative quiz.
Try to determine the type of figurative language Virgil has used in the following lines:

"And as a lion on the Punic plains [...]” (2)
 alliteration, simile

"[...] their light is locked in endless night“
 hyperbole

"He brandishes a shaft as huge as a tree“
 simile


"[...] such tremendous turmoil“
 alliteration
"[...] he presses on against his trembling enemy, [...] as a hunting dog has found a stag
[...]“
 simile
epic conventions.

Speeches
Speeches are present in this book for a few reasons:
Juturna, disguised as Camers, gives a speech to the Latins to rally them for battle.
Aeneas and Turnus both gave prayers to the gods before going into battle with each other.

Deities Intervening
Throughout the entire book, Juno and Venus have been back and forth with hurting/aiding Aeneas,
and it no different in this book.

Catalogues
Like in other epics that display war, there is a cataloguing of soldiers from both sides of the army
and what they have accomplished in battle.

Epithets
Phrygian Tyrant – Aeneas
All-Able Father – Jupiter
Lord of Fire – Vulcan
Sun and Moon – Apollo and Diane
Saturnia – Juno
Two-Faced – Janus
final opinion.
Now that you’ve read the Aeneid, what did you think of the ending? If you could
change anything, would you? Explain. Do you think that Aeneas has fulfilled his fate?