Role of the Gods and Goddesses in the Aeneid

Role of the Gods and Goddesses in the Aeneid

1. Juno

   • Juturna
     • Book XII - Sanctioned by Juno to interfere in the war to try save Turnus
       • Book XII - Goes to the battle lines disguised as Camers to rouse the Rutulians to war
         • Book XII - Sends the eagle into the sky so that the Rutulians misinterpret the sign.
           • Book XII - Takes control of Turnus' chariot and stops him from going to battle with Aeneas
             • Book XII - Turnus recognises his sister Juturna and tells her to stop
               • Book XII - Gives Turnus his sword so Venus gives the spear to Aeneas
   • In General
     • Spiteful
       • Book I - Loves Carthage and hates the Trojans
         • Causes storm in Book I - bringing Aeneas to Carthage
           • Appeals to Aeolus
       • Book II - First to seize the Scaean gate
     • Selfish
       • Book VII - Returns from Argos Aeneas has reached his goal and even though she can't do anything about it personally she will disrupt his path
     • Stubborn
     • Petty
     • Manipulative
       • Allecto
         • Book VII - Puts the serpent into Amata's chest
         • Book VII - Goes to Turnus as Calybe and tries to insight war but gets laughed off and bursts into blazing anger
         • Book VII - She goes to put scent of the stag into the hounds of Iulus, making him kill the stag signalling the start of the war
   • Book IV - Sends Iris to put Dido out of her misery by taking a lock of her hair to give to Dis
   • Book VII - Puts a stop to Allecto and does the finishing touches herself, by opening the gates of war.

2. Jupiter

   • Book I - calms Venus and introduces the first prophecy
   • Book II - Rouses the Gods against Troy
     • Book II - Puts himself into the hearts of the Greeks giving them strength
   • Book IV - Speaks to Mercury and tells him to tell Aeneas to leave as this wasn't the land promised to him
   • Book XII - Jupiter tells Juno to stop intervening and Juno agrees on condition that the Latins keep their name.
     • Book XII - Makes his judgement with the scales
     • Book XII - Sends the Dira to warn off Juturna

3. Venus

   • Cupid
     • Sent by Venus disguised as Ascanius
   • Book I - Disguises herself as a Spartan woman
     • Angry when Aeneas questions her tactics
     • Convinces Aeneas to go to Carthage
       • Shrouds him in a cloud of mist
   • Book I - appeals to Jupiter about Juno's treatment of Aeneas
   • Book II - Appears to Aeneas to stop him killing Helen and reminds him of his fate.
   • Book IV - Juno and Venus agree to marry Dido and Aeneas
   • VIII - Flatters Vulcan into making Aeneas new armour used Thetis as a bribe/blackmail
   • Book XII - Venus sends dittany to Aeneas to cure his arrow wound and it is identified as the work of the Gods
   • Book XII - Tells Aeneas to go to the city of Latium
     • Book XII - Gives Aeneas his spear back

4. Neptune

   • Books 1: Calms the storm she has created
     • Simile
   • Book II - Referred to as loosening the foundations of Troy
   • Book VII - Prevents the Trojans from making harbour

5. Mercury

   • Book I- sent by Jupiter to make Carthage hospitable to the Trojans

6. Athena/Minerva

   • Book II - referenced as being the one that helps the Greeks build the Trojan Horse.
   • Book II - sends the serpents to kill Laocoon convincing the Trojans to take the horse in

7. Vulcan

   • Book XII - Creates the sword for Turnus' father that Turnus has