Chapter Synopsis of The Aeneid - Study Guide by Virgil

gathering of ghosts at the river Lethe. He asks his father about it and Anchises explains that they are waiting for rebirth. He gives an account of the soul's relationship with the body and what happens to it after death. Aeneas is then treated to the Pageant of Heroes: Anchises points out to Aeneas the famous Romans waiting to be born - the Alban kings, Romulus, Augustus, the Roman kings and many heroes of the Roman Republic. Finally, Anchises mentions the elderly Marcellus, famed in the 2nd Punic War, who is attended by a younger spirit. This is the young Marcellus (nephew of Augustus), who is destined to suffer an early death.

Still guided by Anchises, Aeneas and the Sibyl leave by the Gate of Ivory, one of the two gates of the Underworld. Aeneas rejoins his fleet and sails to Caieta.

Book 7 - Start of the War in Latium

After burying Aeneas' nurse, Caieta, the Trojans pass by the dreaded shores of Circe, and then, in bright dawn, sail up the mouth of the Tiber. Virgil invokes the Muse Erato to tell of the state of Latium, and of the wars and fates to come. The main characters and plot of the next six books are now introduced: Lavinia, the daughter of king Latinus is being courted by Turnus, king of the Rutuli, but portents forbid the marriage - a swarm of bees settling on a sacred laurel portend a foreign prince, while fire in Lavinia's hair foreshadows trouble. Latinus seeks the oracles of his father, Faunus, who prophesies that a mighty prince will wed Lavinia.

The Trojans eat the cakes on which their meal is placed, and Ascanius jokes that this is eating their tables, for Anchises had prophesied that they would settle where they were forced to eat their tables. So they sacrifice to the gods and Jupiter sends a favourable omen. Aeneas sends an embassy of one hundred men to Latinus to seek peace. Latinus addresses them and tells them that their ancestor Dardanus had come from there. Iloneus asks to settle there, offering gifts from Aeneas. Latinus is affected not so much by the speech as by the memory of Faunus' prophecy. For he now sees Aeneas as his destined son-in-law. As a result, he accepts the offered alliance, vows Lavinia to Aeneas and sends them away with grand gifts.

Juno, returning from Argos, sees the Trojans settling in Italy, and complains that, in spite of her, they have managed to succeed. Realising that she cannot stop marriage altogether, she nevertheless determines to delay it and to ensure that it will only take place after the shedding of much blood. Descending to Earth, she summons the hateful fury Allecto to help her stir up war and strife. Allecto seeks out Queen Amata and secretly places a snake in her bosom, with the result that, as the poison begins to work, the queen reproaches Latinus for betrothing Lavinia to Aeneas and declares that Turnus too is of foreign blood. Latinus remains firm, but, as the poison grows stronger, Amata rushes through the city madly, like a top. Then, frenzied like a Bacchanal, she hurries to the wood and rouses the matrons to join her mad orgy.

Allecto goes to Turnus disguised as the priestess of Juno and goads him to attack the Trojans. Turnus replies scornfully that war is men's affair, but Allecto appears in real form and maddens him with a torch so that he wakes up with a passion for war and summons his men. Allecto next impels Iulus' dogs to hunt the pet stag of the children of Tyrrheus, the king's forester. Iulus shoots it and it flees home wounded. As a result, the rustics gather in a rage. Allecto urges them on from the top of a stable, and in the ensuing fight Almo and Galaesus are killed. Allecto reports her success to Juno, and offers to do more. However, she is dismissed and disappears down a cavern back to hell.

The Latins now demand war and are urged on by Turnus and the madness created by Amata. Latinus attempts to resist, but when this proves impossible, he abandons control of the government and shuts himself up in the palace. Juno opens up the Gates of War and the whole land is ablaze with warlike preparation. We are then treated to a list of the leaders, heroes and arms.

Book 8 - Aeneas on the Future Site of Rome