Greek And Roman Epic Poetry - 2910 Words

Caius Mergy Professor Witkin Greek and Roman Epic Poetry 14 December 2014 I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this assignment. Caius Mergy According to Virgil’s Aeneid, the Rome of Caesar Augustus proves that the impression that gods exist and care for human beings is â€Å"nothing but a picture† (1.659) . Within the first half of the Aeneid, Aeneas seems to have no understanding of his fate or Rome’s fate. On the one hand, he misinterprets Dido’s frieze and does not comprehend how the line of heroes presented by Anchises relates to the Rome of Caesar Augustus. On the other hand, between books seven and twelve, he is able to manipulate situations to his advantage, indicating that he has some understanding of his fate, while he still does not understand the meaning behind various artworks presented to him. This understanding culminates in his killing of Turnus. In this final act, Aeneas secures the destiny of Rome while succumbing to furor, ignoring the piety in which Jupiter claims that the Romans will surpass the gods. Throughout the Aeneid, Aeneas does not understand any of the artwork that is presented to him, such as his shield, Dido’s frieze, and Anchises’ line of heroes. All pieces of art have hidden meanings as to the idea and character of future Rome and how Aeneas should act. Upon arriving at Carthage, Aeneas sees images of Trojans and other heroes and states: â€Å"Here, too, the honorable finds its due and there are tears for passing things; here,Show MoreRelatedImpact of Greek Culture on the Romans790 Words   |  3 Pages the Roman culture was unparalleled (Fiero 139). The location of Rome on the Italian peninsula put them in a prime location to encounter rich cultures such as the Greeks. 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The history of this time is fascinating because it is the beginning of what we know today as the Roman Empire. It is easy to poke fun at Virgil as a spawn of Homer as his writing is similar in nature to the latter Greek poet. As