The Aeneid Book Three Book Three Aeneas continues
The Aeneid Book Three
Book Three Aeneas continues his story, recounting the aftermath of the fall of Troy. As advised by Anchises, the refugees leave Troy by sea and end up in Thrace. Pulling up roots and the branches of a tree to offer sacrifices, Aeneas notices dark blood and voices coming from the soil. The voice is that of Polydorus, King Priam’s youngest son.
Book Three At the beginning of the Trojan war Priam had sent Polydurus to the king of Thrace to be safe but when Troy fell, the Thracian king sided with the Greeks and killed Polydorus. After holding a proper funeral service for him, Aeneas and his men leave Thrace with a feeling of dread at the violation of hospitality. They sail southward to the island of Delos where Apollo appears to Aeneas.
Book Three Apollo tells Aeneas to go to the land of his ancestors. Anchises interprets this as a reference to the island of Crete, where a great Trojan forefather had long ago ruled. Landing at Crete, the Trojans begin to build a city but a terrible plague soon starts, turning everything black and decaying. Anchises advises Aeneas to leave and this is confirmed in a dream he has, in which he is told to go to Italy.
Book Three After several days at sea, the Trojans arrive on the island of Strophades, island of the Harpies, fierce bird-creatures with feminine faces. Just as they begin to eat some sheep and goats that they have slaughtered, the harpies swoop down and snatch their food from them. As the Trojans try to fight them off with their swords, one of the harpies prophesises the Trojans will end up on Italy but they will endure such hunger before then, that they will eat their own tables.
Book Three Next, Aeneas arrives on an island called Buthrotum. Bizarrely, this region is ruled by Trojans: Helenus and his wife Andromache. After Troy fell, Pyrrhus took women back to his island. He gave Andromache to Helenus, taken as his slave, when he wanted another wife and when Pyrrhus was killed part of the kingdom was given to Helenus.
Book Three Helenus, also a prophet, advises Aeneas on the path ahead. He advises them to take the long way around Sicily, as the short path is near impossible to navigate due to two lethal hazards: Charybdis and Scylla. He informs them that upon landing on the eastern shores of Italy, they will find a sow feeding her 30 piglets. Aeneas is told to pray at this point. After setting sail, Aeneas takes his men to the island of the Cyclops. Afraid of the monsters, they hide in the forest.
Book Three Here the Trojans meet a Greek stranger who tells them how his crew, under Ulysses, was captured by a giant Cyclops and barely escaped alive. He describes that Ulysses stabbed the monster in his one eye to allow their escape. As the stranger finishes his tale, the blinded Cyclops nearly stumbles upon the group. The Trojans make a quick escape, just as the other Cyclopes come down to the shore. As they continue to sail around Sicily, they stop at another city where Aeneas endures yet another unexpected loss, the death of his father.
Book Three Reading Read the following passages: � l. 566 – l. 682: describing Aeneas’ encounter with the Greek and Polyphemus. � l. 706 – 718: describing the death of Anchises.
Book Three Important Points Aeneas’ wanderings have taken place over a seven year period. He is not destined to settle anywhere for any lengthy duration until he reaches Rome. The god given-destiny to settle in Italy and found a great nation is alluded to several times in this book. These prophecies (attributed to Apollo) make the wanderings of Aeneas less aimless. There is an end-game in sight, i. e. Italy. Throughout this traumatic journey, Aeneas and Anchises worship the gods for good fortune and safe passage. Aeneas is pious and duty-bound to the Gods.
Book Three Important Points Aeneas’ role as a leader of his people grows and develops considerably as his journey continues. He is becoming a pater familias to his people, guided and supported by his own ailing father Anchises. Note the parallels and crossover with Odysseus’ wanderings: Charybdis, Scylla, Cyclops, although there are many differences. Aeneas is much more disciplined and restrained that Odysseus: he never offends the gods, steers clear of danger (e. g. Cyclops), his men do not disobey him, (unlike Odysseus crew) and he certainly does not have love affairs with nymphs. There are many things which set him apart from his Greek counterpart.
Book Three Questions 1. Describe, in your own words, what the Greek recounts to Aeneas on the island of the Cyclopes. 2. Discuss the importance of Anchises and his death for Aeneas and his journey.
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