BOOK 2
Dreams in the Ancient world are a common concept in their stories. Oneiromancy is the term
for dreams that foretell the future (supernatural and fate concepts). Based on this Ancient
Greek dream book called the Oneirocritica.
To some extent I disagree that Aeneas was an effective Pater Familias. In Book 2 as his
family and himself, Creussa (his wife) is forgotten by Aeneas and is presumed to be killed off
scene. Later on Aeneas sees “her ghost” in a “larger state”, and finds out Creussa has
passed away from being killed by the Greeks who invaded Troy.
Rape of Cassandra is committed by Ajax (a Greek who was part of sacking Troy)
- showcased women being treated as objects and were violated during wars
- war crimes being committed which were normalised during the Ancient Times. To a
Modern Audience, it creates a huge sense of shock and sympathy towards
Cassandra- a rape victim.
- Rape of Cassandra is also looked down upon in Ancient Rome as she was a virgin
who was physically dragged away from a temple- she was holding onto a statue of a
deity.
- Focuses on the morality aspect (ROME HATED SACRILEGE)
- Also villainises the Greeks (remember- the Greeks were evil in the Roman Eye)
BOOK 3
Which Flashback scene was the most effective?
- Odyssey: Books 9-12
- Aeneid: Books 2-3
Consider the plot, style of writing and characterisation.
Flashback continuation of Aeneas journey from Troy up to being at Dido’s shores. He’s
basically explaining his journey to Dido. Continuation of Book 2’s flashback narrative.
After setting sail for Crete, Aeneas and his crew start to construct a new city, but a dreadful
epidemic soon breaks out. In a dream, the gods of Troy show Aeneas that his father is
mistaken: Italy, the ancestral home of Dardanus, the source of the Trojans' name
Dardanians, is the ancestral place to which Apollo refers. Furthermore, these gods reiterate
the prophecy of Roman propaganda, saying, "You must prepare great walls for a great race."
Involved supernatural elements such as:
- Harpies in the island of Strophades
- Fate
Aeneas and the Trojans encounter the Harpies after leaving Carthage for venturing out to
Italy to establish a new city (fated to be Rome).