Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid

Professor Ameeth Vijay

The Aeneid as National Epic• I sing of arms and of a man• The first to come from the shores• of Troy, exiled by fate, to Italy• And the Lavinian coast; a man battered• On land and sea by the powers above• In the face of Juno's relentless wrath;• A man who also suffered greatly in war• Until he could found his city and bring his gods • Into Latium, from which arose• The Latin people, our Alban forefathers,• And the high walls of everlasting Rome

• Book I.1-12

• National Epic: – the founding story of a nation or people;– an epic that seeks to capture the qualities,

attributes and values of a given people

• Pietas:– duty, devotion and loyalty to one's country,

family, or religion

Ancient Rome

441 BCE: Sophocles – Antigone380 BCE: Plato – Republic149 BCE: Rome conquers Greece45 BCE: Julius Caesar – Dictator of Rome39 BCE: Julius Caesar Assassinated29-19 BCE: Virgil - The Aeneid27 BCE: End of Roman Republic

Roman Government

• Consuls– Elected excutive branch– Two consuls serve at any time– One-year terms– Control over military– Each consul can veto the other's actions

• Senate: – Oversaw and approved administration– Run by wealthy citizens– initally, the patricians– Can appoint temporary dictator in times of

national emergency

• Popular Assemblies– Passed legislation– Governed communities– Open to all citizens– initially, the plebeians

Roman Expansion

I set no limitsIn time or space, and have given to themEternal empire, world without end… And there will come a timeAs the years glide on, when the descendants of Trojan Assaracus shall subdueGlorious Mycenae, Phthia, and Argos.

Book I. 332-342

"Sulla now busied himself with slaughter, and murders without number or limit filled the city…proscriptions were made not only in Rome, but also in every city of Italy, and neither temple of God, nor hearth of hospitality, nor paternal home was free from the stain of bloodshed, but husbands were butchered in the embraces of their wedded wives, and sons in the arms of their mothers. Those who fell victims to political resentment and private hatred were as nothing compared with those who were butchered for the sake of their property"

Plutarch

Riots will often break out in a crowded assemblyWhen the rabble are roused. Torches and stonesAre soon flying — Fury always finds weapons —But then all eyes light upon a loyal citizenA man of respect. The crowd stands stillIn hushed expectation. And with grave wordsHe masters their tempers and clams their hearts.

Aeneid, Book I.176-184

Octavian/Augustus Caesar

"He seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians. Indeed he attracted everybody's goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace. Then he gradually pushed ahead and absorbed the functions of the senate, the officials, and even the law. Opposition did not exist. War or judicial murder had disposed of all men of spirit. Upper-class survivors found that slavish obediance was the way to succeed, both politically and financially."

- Tacitus

Myth Power

Power Myth

My son, Rome will extend her renowned empireto Earth's horizons, her glory to the starsShe will enclose seven hills within the wallOf one city, blessed with a brood of heroes

Book VI.925-928

Here is the Roman who will uproot ArgosAnd Agamemnon's Mycenae, and even the blood Of Aeacus, mighty Achilles' grandsireAvenging Troy and Minerva's temple.

VI.999-1003

Now turn your gaze here and let it rest uponYour family of Romans. Here is CaesarAnd here are all of the descendants of IülusDestined to come under heaven's great dome.And here is the man promised to youAugustus Caesar, born of the godsWho will establish again a Golden AgeIn the fields of Latium once ruled by SaturnAnd will expand his dominionBeyond the Indus and the GaramantesBeyond our familiar stars, beyond the yearly Path of the sun, to the land where AtlasTurns the star-studded sphere on his shoulders

VI.935-947

imperium sine fine:"soverignty without end" "endless empire"

Others will, no doubt, hammer out bronzeThat breathes more softly, and draw living facesOut of stone. They will plead cases betterAnd chart the rising of every star in the sky.Your mission, Roman, is to rule the world.These will be your arts, to establish peace,To spare the humbled, and to conquer the proud

VI.1012-1018

Mythologization of Augustus

Titles of Augustus:Augustus: revered, sacredPrinceps: first among equalsDivi Filius: son of the divinePontifex Maximus: High Priest

"From this resplendent line shall be bornTrojan Caesar, who will extend his Empireto the Ocean and his glory to the stars,A Julian in the lineage of great Ilus.And you, Venus, free at last from care,Will someday welcome him into heaven,Laden with Oriental spoils of war,And his name too will be invoked in vows.Then war shall be no more, and the ages Will grow mild."

Aeneid, Book I.343-351