Aeneas in Dis

Aeneas in Dis

An epic is a long unified narrative poem that contains stories or legends that are then mixed with history to integrate the culture and beliefs of the time into the literature. The Aeneid was an epic written by Virgil in 29-19 BC, during the time period of Augustus’ rule. Virgil was commissioned by Augustus to write this epic to exemplify the greatness of Rome and of Augustus himself. It was also an example of how Rome was becoming more modern. After Troy was destroyed by the Greeks, a few of the survivors set out to find new land. Aeneas is on a mission to find new land for his family and his people. He encounters many different setbacks on his journey, and along the way Aeneas struggles to stay focused on his main mission of finding a new place to settle. In book six of the Aeneid, Aeneas goes down to the Underworld to talk with the spirit of his dead father. This scene is important to the overall theme of virtues and the meaning of the whole epic because it demonstrates the reasons and purpose Virgil wrote this epic during this time.

Aeneas had been instructed by his father’s spirit in a dream in the previous book, that he must go to the Underworld to talk to his father, Anchises. Aeneas was told that he can only get into the Underworld or Dis as it is also called, if fate allows it. Aeneas had to pluck a branch as a sign that he is allowed to enter the gates of Dis. Clearly, it was his fate to go to the Underworld because he easily plucked the branch and brought it as a token to enter Dis. In the Underworld, Aeneas comes across many things before he finds his father. He finally asks where he can find his father and he makes his way to the Blessed Groves where they have instructed him he could find his father. Anchises and Aeneas have an emotional reunion because of the deep love they have for each other and then they began conversing about what Aeneas sees in the Underworld. As they are talking, Aeneas notices a stream with many souls hovered around it. He questions his father about what he sees. His father explains what is going on at the river. The river is called Lethe, which is where souls of individuals go to drink from to lose all memories of their previous life and return back on earth in a new body to live a different life. Anchises points out to Aeneas several important people standing around the Lethe. He points to Romulus, Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Marcellus. For the audience of this epic, these people were of much importance. As the audience knows, these men are great leaders of Rome during the time this was written. Aeneas is unaware of the leadership they will hold because Rome is not yet founded. But by pointing these people out to Aeneas, Anchises is foretelling what the future holds for Aeneas and his people if he continues on his journey. Anchises reminds Aeneas of his duties or destiny’s he had set out to do by showing how Rome will begin and how