The Maius Opus Books VIIXII Vergil and the

The Maius Opus Books VII-XII

Vergil and the Aeneid n During the first 40 years of Vergil’s life he lived during a time of continuous conflict n His work, the Aeneid, features key situations in which individuals create a life in common n e. g. , Evander and Aeneas

Dido n Is there anything Roman about Dido? n Is she to blame for what happens? n Is Aeneas to blame for what happens?

Key Themes n Peace comes at a price n Danger is always at hand n Emphasis on the visual in Augustan culture n New ways for Romans to see themselves n See what they have in common with others

Us vs. Them, Part I n “Keiko was not one of our kind but nevertheless he was still one of us. ” n (Veterinary Chaplain, Speaking at the Funeral of Keiko, A Killer Whale, Oregon, 2003)

Us vs. Them, Part II n “We found several sick and famished Indians, who begged hard for mercy and for food. It hurt my feelings; but the understanding was that all were to be killed. So we did the work. ” n (Settler, Oregon, 1857)

Overview of Book VII n Aeneas arrives in Latium n Latinus promises Lavinia in marriage to Aeneas n Juno and Allecto incite war n Catalogue of Italians who are heroes

New Characters n Latinus, king of n Camillia, amazon Latium like warrior who is allied with Turnus n Lavinia, his daughter n Allecto, a Fury n Turnus, ruler of Rutulians n Latium is the place where Aeneas will n Mezentius, ruler of found Lavinium the Etruscans

Book VII – the halfway point n Erato is the muse chosen to start the book n She is the “lovely one” and she is the muse of love poetry n Book is about women and Vergil’s love of his native land

From Peace to War n When we first see Ostia, it is peaceful, but then it is transformed into a war camp, not a town n Warriors come from all over Italy to the camp

Ostia

From Troy to Rome n Aeneas goes to meet king Latinus, direct descendant of Saturn n Saturn founded Saturnia on the future site of Rome n Trojans have reached their final destination

Aeneas, Turnus and Lavinia n Lavinia is a second Helen AND a second Medea n War breaks out between the Latins and the Trojans n Will end up creating a dysfunctional family with Aeneas

Roman Marriage n Do not look for love in a marriage n Vergil says nothing of their marriage n Lavinia never says anything in this book n Will reappear in Book XII

The Terrifying Prediction VII. 112 -116 n You won’t found your city until you eat your tables n Aeneas and company are so hungry they eat the wheat cakes that hold their food n Is this sinister or funny?

Allecto’s Madness n She makes n Destroys everyone mad n Amata n Turnus n the Italians are angered by Ascanius killing a tame deer relationships between men and women n Fills Turnus with rage – treaty is broken n Trojans are guilty of spilling first blood

The Gates of War n Gates flung open during times of war n Juno opens the gates n War has begun

Camilla – the equal of Turnus n Admired female warrior n Amazing physical powers n Huntress turned warrior n Ignored traditional female roles n Opposite of Dido?

Book VIII – plot summary n Aeneas goes to Evander, Evander promises Etruscan aid n Evander tells the story of Hercules n Venus asks Vulcan to make Aeneas’ armor

Hercules Temple at Rome

New Characters and Places n Evander, king of Pallanteum n Pallas, his son n Cacus, man eating monster • Actium, 31 BC, the critical victory of Octavian (soon to be Augustus) Caesar over the opposing forces of Marc Antony and Cleopatra: this is the central scene in Aeneas' shield

Community and Identity n Multiple versions of n Violence can remove Rome’s foundations moral danger and protect the n Evander’s tour of the established ancient city is community reminiscent of the story of Romulus’ n When Hercules kills foundation Cacus, that is what he is doing

Evander’s humble home n Evander invites Aeneas into his home, which is reminiscent of Augustus’ house on the Palatine n The establishment of a moral, civilized community begins with good leadership

The Shield n Three values, iustitia, virtus, and pietas n All nations will bow down to Rome n Glory of the Roman Empire n Can Aeneas understand what he sees?

Book IX – Where’s Aeneas? n Main events include: n Turnus attacks n Nisus and Euryalus go on a night mission n Rage of Turnus – gets pushed out of Trojan camp

Turnus and the Rutilians n When Turnus attacks the Trojan camp, Aeneas’ ships turn into nymphs and vanish n Turnus is happy – no escape. n Misreads the sign. Urges men to rest before battle resumes

Nisus and Euryalus n Longing for glory, Euryalus decide to sneak off to warn Aeneas, takes Nisus with him n Aeneas says they are a fortunate pair n What is fortunate about getting killed?

A Series of Unfortunate Events n Night-time mission n Lust for Human slaughter and war- prizes n Gleam of helmet betrays a warrior

Interpretation of this episode n Death of young is part of war, may be tragic, but is necessary n Positive view of heroism – how you die defines how people perceive you n Deaths are not tragic as the pair gives in to hybris (excessive pride)

Issues Vergil raises in Book IX n What are the costs of war to women? n What does it mean to be human? n What does it mean to be a victor in war?

Book X- A Very Violent Episode n 25 battle scenes – gory and violent n Fighting continues n Turnus kills Pallas n Juno saves Turnus from Aeneas n Aeneas kills Mezentius

Power of Furor (Anger) n Can the power of a future empire contain the furor? n Juno’s intervention in Turnus and Aeneas’ fight is rare for a battle scene in an epic n Scene between Jupiter and Hercules

The Sorrow of Hercules n Hercules weeps when he sees Pallas dying n Jupiter tells him that everyone has their day to die n Who is Hercules? Most human of gods n Audience sees the death from two perspectives at once n Can anyone change fate?

Book Eleven n Burial of Pallas n Trojans attack n Death of Camilla

Deep Grief of Trojans for Pallas n Mezentius is a bloody trophy, but Pallas is a life tragically cut short n Mourning Trojan women appear n Robbed of the happy future of marriage and children n Death robs young warriors of their future

Turnus’ anger n Turnus is depicted as being like a stallion who wants to rush into war n Aeneas is the opposite, he hates war and equates it with sorrow n Duty vs. Freedom

Death of Camilla n Bellatrix (warrior) n Leaves her hunting for war, but she is doomed. n Promised a noble death n Raised in woods as a wild girl who drinks animals’ milk and even as a toddler had spear, bows and arrows

Respect for Camilla n Diana respects her decision to fight n Turnus puts her in charge of his men n Fights for her own reasons, even after she wants her share of the spoils (and dies fighting for them) she gets a hero’s death

Aeneid XII – The End n Turnus challenges Aeneas to fight n The Rutuli wound Aeneas n He is cured by Venus n Kills Turnus

The Fight n Aeneas trapped Turnus like a hunter traps a deer n Turnus is compared to Mars at the glory of his fighting n His death is humiliating n He offers Aeneas the chance to spare his life

Why Does Aeneas kill Turnus? n Sees belt of Pallas and is enraged n Turnus must die to ensure the future n Aeneas gets to defy Juno’s wishes

Conclusions n This is a foundation story n About community and identity n What are the rules? Who can be in the community? Who is the enemy?