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Throughout The Aeneid, various gods and goddesses have played a significant role in the events and outcome of the plot. One of the goddesses Juno, who despises the Trojans, used her efforts to cause difficulties in Aeneas’s journey to Italy. From the beginning, Juno persuaded Aeolus, the god of winds, to form a storm against the Trojan ships at sea. Even though, Neptune, the god of the sea, later managed to calm the storm, Aeneas was left only with seven ships at Libya. Later on, Juno also sent her messenger Iris to cause the Trojan ships to be set on fire, delaying their journey to Italy. Juno also gave advice and protected Turnus, a ruler in Italy, in his battle with Aeneas, hoping Turnus gains victory.

On the other hand, another goddess Venus, Aeneas’s mother, tried to help Aeneas whenever she saw him in danger or trouble from Juno’s intervention. Venus gave advice to Aeneas to go see the Queen of Carthage, Dido. With Venus’s help, Dido fell in love with Aeneas so he was welcomed in Carthage rather than opposed from the people there. Venus even convinced her husband Vulcan to make Aeneas new weapons and armor in order to advantage Aeneas in his battle with Turnus. Juno and Venus both viewed and acted towards Aeneas differently, one against Aeneas and the other in favor of Aeneas reaching Italy safely. Without the intervention from the god and goddesses, Aeneas’s journey in The Aeneid probably wouldn’t have been the way it was.

Fate plays an extremely important role in The Aeneid, especially in Aeneas’ future. Despite the infinite amount of efforts that some make to sway Aeneas from his destined path, especially by Juno, the goddess who creates obstacles for Aeneas and prevent Aeneas from reaching his destination. For example, Juno decides to give Aeneas a hard time as they are sailing across Sicily and is able to convince Aeolus to stir up the sea. This is one of the many other attempts she makes to make Aeneas’ journey more difficult. However, fate is much stronger than this and can’t be prevented. This is clearly showed when Juno becomes aware that no matter how much she tries, she can’t prevent the Trojans from finding a new city. Therefore, fate is what helps Aeneas reach his destination.

I think that Aeneas is a hero because of his desire to build a new city. He is same as the character, Odysseus in Odysseys, who has so many turns in life. In The Aeneid, Juno plays the same role as Poseidon in Odysseys who creates troubles for main characters. Even though the way to build a new city is tough; Aeneas overcomes it and refuses the love from princess in order to pursuit his desire. I think Virgil has chosen to depict him in this way because he wants to show how solid is Aeneas’ desire. Comparing with Odysseus, they both all drifting in the beginning and refuse to stay with other lovers. Their desires are very solid and unbreakable, and these two stories all end up with main characters winning the battles and glories.

What is the role of prophecies and/or fate in The Aeneid?

Aeneas role displays leadership characteristics. While he struggles through his journey. Aeneas conserves his sanity of his own life and his men. He prays to the Gods about his difficulties, even though it’s a goddess being responsible for those hardships. Juno puts obstacles in Aeneas journey. In some way his fate is going to lead him where he belongs as it seems like he follows it by forced, but he is willing to reach his accomplishments not knowing how but aiming for it. This leads to how people want to change their fate by wanting different things and do whatever it takes to accomplish it. Sometimes this does not satisfy one needs because that was probably not their fate.

What is the role of prophecies and/or fate in The Aeneid?

Being polytheistic societies, people of both Rome and Greece have been largely influenced by gods and their actions, just as well as by prophecies and their beliefs of what their fate is and what they’re destined to accomplish in their lives. Virgil, a Roman poet, has also been influenced by all the above when he wrote “The Aeneid”. He wrote the book in such a way that stresses out the importance of prophecies and fate in it, and Virgil lets those serve reader as some sort of guide through the book. However, just as it’s the case with the main character, Aeneid, who keeps repeating how’s he doing what he’s destined to do but doesn’t specify how exactly he’s going to accomplish it, Virgil guides readers by briefly introducing what’s going to happen but without specifying how it is exactly going to happen. Overall, prophecies and fate do play an important role in “The Aeneid” but it is not necessarily the only thing that matters in the story. This is because Aeneid, although repeating that he’s doing what he’s destined to do, he’s not blindly led into his actions, he rather makes a conscious decision to follow his “destiny” and therefore does have some control over it.

Aeneid and Odyssey both appear as heroic and adventurous characters. They pass though many obstacles to reach their fate and peace. One of the differences between them is that Aeneid is forced to leave his home and Odyssey is forced to go back home. These journeys tells a lot about these two heroes. The Gods play with them in similar ways throwing them to the edges of death and giving them tools to facilitate their trips. I believe Virgil chose to depict Aeneid the way he did, in order to introduce the reader with a better version of Odyssey. Aeneid had everything we wished Odyssey had while reading The Odyssey; true love for his family, honesty and determination. Odyssey never really showed to much ego to go back to his family. We can question his honesty because of the way he planed to to enter and conquer Troy and the many times he cheated on his wife. Also, Odyssey, even though he was on his way home, he never seemed to settle with that idea in his head.
In my opinion Aeneid is a hero and a better one.

The role of the gods and the goddesses in the Aeneid is very important. Certainly, without them the whole story would take a different course. One of the most significant goddesses is Venus, Aeneas’ mother. She protects him throughout his adventures by advising him and helping him in certain extreme situations when an angry Juno tries to destroy him. One very important example is when Venus obtains new weapons for Aeneas’ army because she is afraid of Juno. Juno is another goddess who plays a vital role here. She hates Trojans therefore she helps Turnus in the hope that he will finally wins over his enemy, Aeneas. Juno observes Trojans very carefully, and as soon as she catches the best moment to attack them, she immediately informs Turnus.  She also gives him her advice how to approach them. Both, Juno and Venus, use their divine power to control and direct the events in accordance with their feelings/moods. Without their ‘providence’, neither Aeneas nor Turnus would survive up to the point they did.

Q.What is the role of prophecies and/or fate in The Aeneid?

Answer. Fate is a central theme and one of the most important forces that is represented. Neither man nor divine intervention can change those outcomes. The king of the gods, Jupiter, preordains the direction and destination of Aeneas’s course. Various gods interfere in Aeneas’s life to advance their own personal interests, but they can not change fate. Their interference do however impede him on his journey to fulfilling his destiny. The defeat of Troy by the Greeks was another step to in the Trojans fulfilling their destiny.

Q. Is Aeneas a hero? In what ways yes and no? Why might Virgil have chosen to depict him in this way? How might he compare with Odysseus?

A. Based on my perspective, Aeneas is a hero. From lines 525 to 530 of Book XII, it said that while Turnus, Mnestheus, and Achates gave death to their enemies, Ascanius accomplished Aeneas to the camp while bleeding, using his long spear to put weight on. (Virgil, Fitzgerald, 381) Virgil possibly chose to depict Aeneas in this way to show that he fought bravely and victoriously. He was able to defeat his enemies while getting injured, even to the point of near death. According to Odysseus, after he defeated the enemies and abandoned the dead, he longed for home. His father-son relationship backed up his fighting spirit. Aeneas possibility has the same type of support.

Is Odysseus or anyone else in The Odyssey a hero? If so, what does this tell us about western ideas of heroism? Do any of these ideas remain in place today or have they changed? If so, how or how not and why or why not?

I feel like in the Odyssey Odysseus is portrayed as a hero, referred to as “kingly” and that “there is no mortal half so wise,” which means he was highly regarded. However, his method of surviving and winning all these battles was his wit and that does not necessarily mean his honesty. He did whatever he needed to do to get out of a situation regardless of who he was affecting in his path. I feel like the idea of a hero has changed tremendously in recent times. Heroes are viewed selfless people who give themselves over to protect others never thinking of themselves and are always honest.