Homer and Virgil were ancient authors who wrote two of the greatest epic poems in history; the Iliad and Aeneid. These masterpieces are composed of many different aspects that make them unique. These aspects included having limitation on roles of the heroes and gods and goddesses, the different point of view on what a hero is, the heroic code, and the different subjects within each epic. The works were both presented a world filled with gods and goddesses, and heroes fighting remarkable wars. Homer
important information. Virgil starts of the passage by introducing the main character of his epic, “Arms and a man I sing, the first from Troy, A fated exile in the Lavinian shores In Italy.” Virgil establishes that Aeneus is one of the survivors of Troy and he is the first from Troy to come to the Italian shore. Virgil’s use of the term “fated exile,” is interesting because we, as readers, know that it is Aeneus’s goal to find the city of Rome in present day Italy. Virgil could be referring to Juno’s
Heroism and Humanity in Virgil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Heroides Understanding human identity is a complex process that must exam the human capacity to think and act independently— individual agency. In this process, one discovers that external factors such as gender affect how human capacity is viewed. And through this, a question of heroism arises: What is truly heroic, to ignore human desires or to follow them? This question is addressed in many literary works as philosophers and authors struggle to
usually filled with charisma and have complex personalities. Two such heroes were Aeneas and Odysseus, from Virgil’s The Aeneid and Homer’s The Odyssey, respectively. Each of these heroes follow similar paths in their journeys back home after the Trojan War, however, their approach and personalities greatly vary during the numerous encounters in their journey. Odysseus is conceited and flaws as a hero by excessively praising himself. He is also not very careful about his crew members and tends to be unfaithful
The Aeneid and the Iliad are both marvelous works consisting of powerful meanings and themes. Virgil and Homer are both acclaimed writers, even though it is debated if Homer ever even existed. Overall, both works have serious tones, but differences are seen mainly with the characters. In the Iliad, Helen is treated as an object while in the Aeneid, Helen has more character, and is sought after to be killed. Also, the Aeneid has a more biased point of view then the Iliad. Furthermore, the Iliad’s
An epic hero is a significant character depicted in the format of an epic poem. The Aeneid written by Virgil, is a Latin epic poem that articulates the famous story of Aeneas, a Trojan who embarks on a journey to the Italian peninsula in order to found the Roman Empire. The Iliad, one of two epic poems told by Homer, describes the tenth year of the Trojan War, following the Greek warrior Achilles and his crisis of identity. The characters Aeneas and Achilles are the archetypal heroes of ancient
An epic hero is a significant character depicted in the format of an epic poem that exemplifies a person of considerable strength and extraordinary achievements. The two ancient poems that personify epic heroes and represent the major civilizations of Greece and Rome are the Aeneid, and the Iliad. The Aeneid written by Virgil, is a Latin epic poem that articulates the story of Aeneas, a Trojan who embarks on a journey to the Italian peninsula in order to found the Roman Empire (page 489-490). The
The poet Publius Ovidius Naso, now more commonly known as Ovid is most known for his magnum opus, Metamorphoses. The Metamorphoses or "Books of Transformations" is a mythological epic with a close retelling of history, from creation to Rome’s conception. It is a literary mystery as to why Emperor Augustus exiled the poet, leading many to question whether Ovid was actually pro or Anti-Augustan. While Ovid is considered an Augustan propagandist, there are aspects of Metamorphoses that at times support
to memorialize the similar yet unique cultures of Greece and Rome. Two of the greatest of these poems, The Aeneid and The Iliad, share a few things in common, while yet retaining individuality. As the heroes of epic poems, both Achilles and Aeneas have been designed to illustrate traits, complete deeds, and demonstrate morals that were valued in their particular society. Achilles, the hero of The Iliad, demonstrates the values that were more important in Greek culture, namely glory and valor. On
He describes gruesome battle scenes but never with a disdainful tone. Achilles, although he has many character flaws, is undoubtedly the hero of the story. For example, the Trojan people and the Greek gods barely even blame him for desecrating Hector’s body. It is Apollo, god of knowledge, who must come to lifeless Hector’s defense: “…brave though [Achilles] be we gods may take it ill that