A 12 book (chapter) heroic epic; left unfinished at the time of Virgil's death--technically, The Aeneid we now have is the rough draft Virgil worked on for 11 years!

It is considered by many to be the single most influential poem the history of Western civilization.

Influenced: Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser and many others.

Similar to Homer's The Odyssey (Homer acts as Virgil's muse): uses the themes of the wanderer (found in The Odyssey) and the hero in battle (found in The Iliad); uses "Homeric Phrasing" (i.e. similes, allusions, epithets, etc); Aeneas is most like Odysseus when he descends to the Underdworld.

Founded the city of Alba Longa, from which came Romulus and Remus-- the founders of Rome

Aeneas is considered the Prototype of the ideal Roman Ruler because:
He had devotion to duty & a seriousness of purpose

believes in the continuity of generations or
the immortality of the family group'

set in political and religious continuity
(i.e. carries statues of the gods of Troy)

suffers and fights for the future (not himself)-- his future is revealed in The Underworld (hint, hint)

Anchises-- Father of Aeneas

Dido-- Queen of Carthage; falls in love with Aeneas; when he leaves her, she commits suicide

Sybil-- guides Aeneas through the Underworld

Turnes-- enemy of Aeneas; a giant of a man and braggart warrior; aided by Juno (Hera) and killed by Aeneas