When Troy is invaded by Greece, Aeneas’ first desire is to fight for the glory and preservation of his people. He states, “to arms was my first maddened impulse […],” and this shows how Aeneas was “maddened” by what the Greeks are doing to his people and all he can think of is saving his people of dying with them. To die for his country would be an honor and he stated, “meeting death was beautiful in arms” (Virgil, 1999, p. 44). Aeneas is unable to join his countrymen in battle though because, as William Anderson explains in his book “Art of the Aeneid,” his fate is to found a new Trojan homeland and would become more than a man, but Rome itself (2005, p.10). Also, the gods do not allow Aeneas to join battle because of this fate, and because of this, Anderson states the “gods do not permit [Aeneas] to die, with conventional heroism, fighting for Troy and home country” (2005, p. 9).

The decision to leave Troy is one that Aeneas must live with forever. He carries with him the memories of his lost men and searches for a new homeland, a new Troy, for the survivors with him to live in. His desire is to find a homeland for his people where, they may live in peace. When he recalls to Dido and the people of Carthage the event at Troy, he describes that violence and destruction of the Greeks. He also describes the horror in which King Priam and his son were murdered (Virgil, 1999, pp. 51-52). During this reflection, Aeneas shows his connection to Troy and his commitment to his people. Aeneas commitment to his countrymen causes him to give up his own personal desires: a marriage to Dido and a homeland in Carthage. Anderson states, “Books One and Four describe the temptation created by Dido and Aeneas’ reluctant decision in the end to break away from her,” which further supports that Aeneas puts the destiny of his people above his own desires (2005, p. 34).

Aeneas regrets hurting Dido and the tragic outcome of her life, but his commitment is to his people above himself. Anderson shows how Aeneas puts his people above himself when he states that during the Trojan War “Aeneas played no important part,” does individualize himself, and there is even a reduction of the personal “I” (2005, p.38). Whereas, as the story progresses, Aeneas’ experiences are made clear to the reader and “we are made aware if his role as leader of the Trojan destiny” (Anderson, 2005, p. 38). Aeneas sees that he will never have the comfort he desires, and “only responsibility and the assurance that his actions advance new Troy” make his sacrifices worth while (Anderson, 2007, p. 41). Because of this, Carthage will never be his homeland, Dido will never be the wife promised to him, and Vergil uses this turmoil to bring Aeneas to a braking point, which allows him to abandon his connection to “old Troy” and devote himself to finding the new Troy the gods promised him (Anderson, 2005, pp. 43-44).

AENEAS LEAVING DIDO AND SEARCHING FOR NEW HOMELAND from Classics1 on Comiqs

The Greek and Trojan War brought Aeneas a fate that he did not always like, but, as the ghost of his wife prophesized, Aeneas’ fate would bring “glad peace, a kingdom, and a queen […]” (Virgil, 1999, p.60). Aeneas states that because “no help or hope of help existed” he “[…] resigned [himself], picked up [his] father, and turned [his] face towards the mountain rage,” and left Troy the way the gods had planned (Virgil, 1999, p. 61). It seems, in the “Aeneid,” that whenever Aeneas forgets what the gods have foretold, they remind him, and his destiny once again takes precedence because of the “[…] expectations of [his] heir, Iulus, to whom the Italian realm, the land of Rome, is due” (Virgil, 1999, p. 105). Aeneas struggles with his destiny, but when it comes down to it, the nationalism Aeneas feels for his people keeps him searching for a new homeland and peace.

Finding Italy from Classics1 on Comiqs

Mussolini believed that Rome was an important and unforgettable component for the Italian Empire he wished to create, an Empire that would be united by that people it was founded and no outside influences. Jan Nelis states that classic antiquity, which is the influence of classic era figures on modern Italy, was an important belief of Mussolini, and one that he felt was vital to the expansion of Italy. From classic antiquity came the development of “Romanità or “Romanness” of the Italian people. As Italian Fascism grew, so did this connection to Romanità, which even became a cult like belief of Mussolini (2007, pp. 391-393). Mussolini seemed to be acting off the belief that from Rome’s successes and failures, Italy could learn to be a great Empire. Mussolini himself strived to be like Julius Caesar (Nelis, 2007, p. 395).

Even Mussolini’s racist views seemed to stem from his connection to Rome. He believed that the “history of Rome would teach Italy how to become a great nation,” (Nelis, 2007, p. 397) and that Rome’s decline of power was because of its “[…] corruption of Dominant races in too much too frequent contact with inferior people” (Nelis, 2007, p. 398). Because of this view, he began to ban Jews from “public life” in order to preserve the pure Italian community (Nelis, 2007, p. 401).

Because of his love for ancient Rome, Mussolini believed that Christianity was a disease which turned out to be fatal for the acient Roman gods,” and these beliefs lead even more cult activities, in which he brought the worshipping of Roman gods back again (Nelis, 2007, p. 398). His nationalism lied with Rome. He felt that, with the changes he was making, Italy would become Rome and vice versa. This would make Rome and Italy equal and from this metamorphosis he created the motto “Roma omorte,” which means “Rome of Death” (Nelis, 2007, p. 399).

Mussolini used the Punic Wars as an example of “national regeneration” and stated that he believe Italy should follow Rome’s example (Nelis, 2007, p. 399). The creation of a Roman Italy would benefit the Italian people because it would create a wise and strong imperial nation, whose discipline would allow them to rise above all others (Nelis, 2007, p. 403). Mussolini saw any type of war as a very valuable asset to the creation of the “New Italian people,” which he believed would be an elite group that rose above all others (Nelis, 2007, p. 409).

Mussolini tried to build a connection between himself and Caesar. He believed the death of Caesar to be a “disgrace for humanity,” and identified Caesar as the founder of Rome, instead of Caesar’s great nephew Augustus (Nelis, 2007, p. 406). In fact, the only importance Augustus had to Mussolini was in establishing a connection between Mussolini and Caesar (Nelis, 2007, p. 405). Mussolini even stated similarities between himself an Augustus, stating that they were both founders of an Empire, peace-bringers, and builders (Nelis, 2007, p. 405). Mussolini depicts himself as the all-knowing leader of Italy and believed that through “classical antiquity” he would watch a strong Italian nation flourish, conquer, and expand (Nelis, 2007, p. 415).

WWII would crush the hopes of Mussolini because as Hitler’s power grew, Mussolini began to have less and less control of Italy. WWII brought disaster to Mussolini, and, as this youtube video shows, Hitler’s plans for Germany did not benefit Mussolini’s “New Italy.” The creation of the Roman Italy ceased with the death of Mussolini.

Mussolini from Classics1 on Comiqs

It was both Aeneas and Mussolini’s goal to create a strong nation of peace for their people. Aeneas was encouraged by the gods that he would find a homeland and Mussolini felt that by learning from Rome, he could create a strong nation that would tower above all others and live in peace. The road to both Aeneas and Mussolini’s peace was paved with sorrow. For Aeneas, he watched Troy be destroyed by the Greeks, the people he loved being murdered, and, once on his journey to the new homeland, gave up the desire of his heart. Mussolini believed that Italy could learn from Rome’s rise and fall, and believed that this was extremely vital to the creation of a Roman Italy. Where Aeneas’ decisions did not always benefit him, Mussolini decisions were made based on his want for power and glory. Mussolini wanted to become a dictator like Caesar, and his love for Rome seems to imply that he was trying to learn how to create a strong nation from Caesar and Augustus’ Roman Empire. Both Aeneas and Mussolini’s search for peace brought creation of beautiful buildings, structures, and landscapes which would sing of their glory as a nation. With the rise of their leadership, Aeneas and Mussolini both seem to be consumed by madness. Aeneas, for the homeland he lost, the people he cares about, and the freedom of his people. Mussolini, on the other hand, seems to be maddening by his own beliefs. Jan Nelis states Mussolini’s mythical beliefs began to blur his reality (2007, p.401).

This madness was a small price to pay for their people’s glory. For this glory, Aeneas and Mussolini would make sacrifices and even offer up their lives.Aeneas would take a people who have been displaced by war and find a peaceful homeland for them. Out of disaster a great nation would rise. Mussolini, on the other hand, would watch his nation slowly being destroyed.  The domino effect of power caused a disaster to fall on Europe, one that was under the control of Hitler, and would smash all of Mussolini’s dreams of creating a strong Roman Italy. Mussolini tried to display himself as an “all-knowing leader” (Nelis, 2007, p. 415) but Aeneas was a true leader because he placed others above himself and always sought the best for his people.

ROMAN AND WWII STATUES from Classics1 on Comiqs

Brussels, Jan Nelis. (2007). “Constructing Fascist Identity: Benito Mussolini and the Myth of Romanità.” Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/classical_world/v100/100.4nelis.html

Fitzgerald, R. (trans.). (1990). Virgil: The Aeneid. New York: Random House Publishers.

Greenwald, Glenn. (2007).  A Tragic Legacy: How a Good Versus Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency. New York: Crown Publishers.

Wheelwright, Jonathan. (August 8, 2005) “Nationalism.” Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://www.unitednorthamerica.org/nation…

“…Behind them

Baleful Juno in her sleepless rage” (Book 1, Lines 7-8)

She dislikes the Trojans and wishes to prolong their suffering, especially since Aeneas, the Trojan prince, has made an alliance with the royalty of Latium. Vergil explains Juno’s hatred in the first book:

“And Juno, we are told, cared more for Carthage

Than for any walled city of the earth,

More than for Samos, even. There her armor

And her chariot were kept, and, fate permitting,

Carthage would be the ruler of the world.

So she intended, and so nursed that power.

But she had heard that long since

That generations born of Trojan blood

Would one day overthrow her Tyrian walls,

And from that blood a race would come in time

With ample kingdoms…” (Book 1, Lines 24-34)

She attempts to manipulate Aeolus, the ruler of the winds, to disturb Aeneas’ trip home. She cunningly tried to offer one of her nymphs as a potential wife, but Aeolus declines. Her ease in deceiving people remains relevant throughout the epic.

Once Dido becomes hypnotized by the love from Cupid’s arrow, Juno ceases this opportunity to attempt to keep Aeneas and his new lover together, reducing the chance of the Trojan prince establishing his own strong nation. When she is arguing the benefits of the lovers’ marriage to Venus, she sounds supportive of the marriage, but in context, it is apparent that she is working only in her favor, hoping to delay the destruction of her own homeland:

“I am not blind.

Your fear of our new walls has not escaped me,

Fear and mistrust of Carthage at her height.

But how far will it go? What do you hope for,

Being so contentious? Why do we not

Arrange eternal peace and formal marriage?

You have heart’s desire: Dido in love,

Dido consumed to the core.

Why not, then, rule this people side by side

With equal authority…” (Book 5, Lines 137-146)

Juno did not intend this as an offering of peace, but instead she suggested marriage to divert Aeneas and keep him in Libya to save Carthage. She knew that he was destined to destroy her city, but by delaying him, she delayed the inevitable destruction of her city. The plan worked until Jupiter sent Mercury to tell Aeneas to continue with his voyage, but Juno had again proven her power by putting off the preordained fate of Carthage. The fate of Carthage was not completely avoidable, but Juno did her best to continue its reign as long as allowed by fate. After Aeneas was underway on his journey once again, Juno did not retire and surrender her grudge. After the Trojans had beached at Sicily, she sent Iris down to stir the Trojan women into destroying several of the Trojan ships. By destroying the ships, Juno once again was preventing Aeneas from easily fulfilling his destiny:

“Women of Troy,
They looked now toward the ships, uncertainly,
With animosity, half in unhappy love
Of landscapes there before them, half still bound
To fated realms calling them onward-
…Wrought into a frenzy, all cried out together,
Snatching up fire from hearths, despoiling altars,
Taking dry foliage, brush, and brands to throw.
And Vulcan, god of fire, unbridled raged
Through rowing thwarts and oars and piney hulls.”
(Book 5, Lines 845-857)

King Latinus from Classics1 on Comiqs

Juno again thwarted Aeneas’ journey. The Trojans were forced to replace many timbers in the ships and fit new oars and rigging. Some of the Trojans were allowed to remain in Sicily instead of continuing the journey with Aeneas, notching a small victory in Juno’s favor. Venus’ conversation with Neptune after this disgrace reiterates Juno’s power:

“Juno’s anger, and her implacable heart,
Drive me to prayers beneath my dignity.
No length of time, no piety affects her,
Unbroken in will by Jove’s commands of Fate,
She never holds her peace. To have devoured
A city from the heart of Phrygia’s people
In her vile hatred, this was not enough,
Nor to have dragged the remnant left from Troy
Through all harassment. Now she harries still
Troy’s bones and ashes.
…look at her new crime, how she egged on
The Trojan women to their foul ship-burning,
Making the Trojans, for that loss of ships,
Forsake their own folk in a strange country.”
(Book 5 Lines 1018-1027; 1034-1037)

Juno’s attempts to foil Aeneas’ future repeatedly troubled his mother, Venus. Juno could not keep Aeneas from his fate, especially once he and his peoples reached the shores of Latium. King Latinus was aware of Aeneas’ coming due to a prophecy, and welcomed him, but Juno had no given up quite yet. She admitted her inability to change fate, but determined to burden Aeneas once more in his excursion:

“… I am defeated
And by Aeneas. Well, if my powers fall short,
I need not falter over asking help
Wherever help may lie. If I can sway
No heavenly hearts I’ll rouse the world below.
It will not be permitted me - so be it –
To keep the man from rule in Italy;
By changeless fate Lavinia waits, his bride.
And yet to drag it out, to pile delay
Upon delay in these great matters – that
I can do: to destroy both countries’ people,
That I can do. Let father and son-in-law
Unite at that cost to their own! In blood,
Trojan and Latin, comes your dowry, girl;
Bridesmaid Bellona waits now to attend you.
Hecuba’s not the only one who carried
A burning brand within her and bore a son
Whose marriage fired a city. So it is
With Venus’ child, a Paris once again,
A funeral torch again for Troy reborn!”
(Book 7 Lines 422-441)

This decree by Juno emphasizes not her defeat, as she stated in the first line, but her strength and willpower. There are a few more representations of Juno in The Aeneid, but none as powerful and important as this statement. Even when the inevitable destiny is at hand, Juno did not give in, but made one last effort to hinder Aeneas. She determined to “drag it out, to pile delay upon delay” (Book VII: lines 430-431) upon his destined fate. To achieve this, she called upon a Fury and aided Turnus, the opponent of Aeneas.

“Here is a service all your own
That you can do for me, Daughter of Night,
Here is a way to help me, to make sure
My status and renown will not give way
Or be impaired, and that Aeneas’ people
Cannot by marriage win Latinus over
…Break up this peace-pact, scatter acts of war”
(Book 12: Lines 452-457; 464)

The Fury served Juno by driving Lavinia’s mother to madness, leading to women of Latium on a Bacchic retreat. She also took on the shape of Calybë, and approached Turnus with a plea.

“Turnus, can you bear to see
…The king withholds your bride,
Witholds the dowry that you fought and bled for.
…Mow down the Tuscan ranks, shelter the Latins
Under your peace-pact! So? These messages-
While you lay in the stillness of the night-
Saturn’s almighty daughter ordered me
Herself to bring before you.
…Prepare a sortie and a fight. These Phrygian
Captains in their camp on our fine river,
Give them a burning, burn their painted ships.
Great force in heaven demands it.”
Book 12: Lines 581; 584-585; 587-591; 584-597)

Turnus at first denied the challenge, but the Fury convinced him to comply. The Fury reported her deeds to Juno, proud of herself, flying up to the heavens to do so.

“Terrors and treacheries
We have in plenty. All that may prolong
A war is there: they fight now hand to hand
And arms luck gave are running with fresh blood.
There is the marriage, there is the ceremony
Venus’ distinguished son and that great king
Latinus may take joy in! As for you,
This roving rather freely in high air
Is hardly as the Father wishes
… Down with you.
If any further need to act arises
I myself will manage.”
(Book 12: Lines 757-768)

Here Juno demonstrated her power over another goddess, by sending her back to the Underworld. She also took the initiative, deciding to take it upon herself alone to cause any subsequent troubles to Aeneas. Juno ensured the war would begin quickly. When Latinus refused to call for war against the Trojans, she took matters into her own hands and spoke to the queen instead.

“Heaven’s queen
At this dropped from the sky. She gave a push
To stubborn-yielding doors, then burst the iron-bound
Gates of war apart on turning hinges.”
(Book 12 Lines 852-855)

At that signal, men from the surrounding countryside all dropped their tasks and prepared for war against the Trojans. When peace again was on the horizon, Juno stepped in to fire up Juturna, Turnus’ nymph sister, continuing the warfare.

“… While Fortune seemed
Compliant, and the Fates let power rest
With Latium, your brother and your city
Had my protection. Now I see the soldier
Meeting a destiny beyond his strength:
His doom’s day, mortal shock of the enemy,
Are now at hand. I cannot bear to watch
This duel, this pact. If you dare help your brother
More at close quarters, do it, and well done.
…Go, snatch your brother back from death
If there’s a way. Or else renew the war,
Cast out the pact which they drew up. I’ll be
Sponsor to your audacity.”
(Book 12 Lines 197-205; 211-214)

Juno was aware that helping Turnus directly would bring the fury of Jupiter upon her. Thus she called upon another to aid Turnus, and further delayed Aeneas’ final rest in Latium, once again proving her power. As Juno watched the ensuing battle between Aeneas and Turnus, Jupiter came to chide her.

“My consort,
What will the end be? What is left for you?
You yourself know, and say you know, Aeneas
Born for heaven, tutelary of this land,
By fate to be translated to the stars.
What do you plan? What are you hoping for,
Keeping your seat apart in the cold clouds?
Fitting, was it, that a mortal archer
Wound an immortal? That a blade let slip
Should be restored to Turnus, and new force
Accrue to a beaten man? Without your help
What could Juturna do?
…You had the power to harry men of Troy
By land and sea, to light the fires of war
Beyond belief, to scar a family
With mourning before marriage. I forbid
Your going further.”
(Book 12 Lines 1072-1083; 1089-1093)

In this speech, it is evident that even Jupiter respected Juno’s power, but had to step in to prevent further harm from being done to Aeneas’ new peoples. The last demonstration of Juno’s power and prestige came in her final speech of the epic poem. She knew that at last the time had come to allow fate to take its course, but out of pride asked that the joined peoples not be termed the “new Troy.”

“I yield now and for all my hatred leave
This battlefield. But one thing not retained
By fate I beg for Latium, for the future
Greatness of your kin: when presently
They crown peace with a happy wedding day-
So let it be- and merge their laws and treaties,
Never command the land’s own Latin folk
To change their old name, to become new Trojans,
Known as Teucrians; never make them alter
Dialect or dress. Let Latium be.
Let there be Alban kings for generations,
And let Italian valor be the strength
Of Rome in after times. Once and for all
Troy fell, and with her name let her lie fallen.”
(Book XII: lines 1110-1123)

With this, Juno let fate come to be, but threw in one last demonstration of her power by not allowing the Latins to become known as Trojans, her despised race. There are several demonstrations of Juno’s power and prestige in The Aeneid. She called upon gods of other powers, such as Aeolus, Iris, and the Fury to facilitate her in her task. She caused Venus much distress concerning the safety of her son. Finally, when faced with defeat, Juno arose to demonstrate her power just once more by hindering his acceptance into his new land. She used her power to disrupt the course of Aeneas and acts as the main figure of deception in the epic.

This montage portrays the buzzwords used by politicians to influence our country to send troops to Iraq.

The music is Against Me!’s Stop!