Glossary
Cassandra's Prophecy
The warnings given by Cassandra, a Trojan priestess cursed by Apollo to utter true prophecies that no one would believe. Her warnings about the Trojan Horse were ignored, highlighting the Trojans' tragic blindness.
Example:
Despite Cassandra's Prophecy that the horse would bring ruin, the Trojans dismissed her words as madness.
Deception
The act of misleading or tricking someone, a prominent theme in Aeneid Book 2. The Greeks use it to infiltrate Troy, leading to its destruction.
Example:
The entire strategy of the Greeks relied on deception, making the Trojans believe they had abandoned the siege.
Divine Intervention
The involvement of gods or goddesses in human affairs, often to influence events or guide mortals. In Book 2, gods actively participate in Troy's fall and Aeneas's escape.
Example:
Aeneas's escape from burning Troy was only possible due to direct divine intervention from his mother, Venus.
Duty
A moral or legal obligation, a sense of responsibility. Aeneas's primary motivation shifts from revenge to fulfilling his *duty* to his family and the future of Rome.
Example:
Aeneas felt a profound sense of duty to protect his family and the household gods, even as Troy burned around him.
Fate
The predetermined course of events, often seen as unchangeable and guided by the will of the gods. It is a central theme in the Aeneid, driving Aeneas's journey.
Example:
Despite their valiant efforts, the fate of Troy was sealed, destined to fall as foretold by the gods.
Hector's Ghost
The spectral appearance of the deceased Trojan hero Hector to Aeneas in a dream. He warns Aeneas of Troy's imminent fall and urges him to flee and preserve Troy's sacred heritage.
Example:
Aeneas was horrified to see Hector's Ghost, disheveled and wounded, delivering the grim news of Troy's doom.
Laocoön
A Trojan priest of Neptune who warns his people against the Trojan Horse, suspecting Greek treachery. He is tragically killed by two sea serpents, which the Trojans misinterpret as divine punishment for his actions.
Example:
Despite Laocoön's urgent warnings, the Trojans brought the wooden horse inside their city walls, sealing their doom.
Literary Devices
Techniques used by authors to create specific effects or enhance meaning in their writing. Vergil employs various *literary devices* like rhetorical questions, similes, and alliteration to enrich the Aeneid.
Example:
When analyzing a passage, identifying the literary devices Vergil uses, such as vivid imagery or personification, helps to understand its deeper impact.
Pergama, Pergamorum (n. pl.)
An alternative name for Troy, often referring specifically to its citadel or stronghold. It emphasizes the city's ancient and storied past.
Example:
The fall of Pergama marked the end of a glorious era for the Trojans.
Scansion
The analysis of poetic meter, specifically identifying the pattern of long and short syllables in lines of dactylic hexameter. It helps understand the rhythm and sound of Vergil's poetry.
Example:
Mastering scansion allows you to hear the epic rhythm of Vergil's lines, distinguishing dactyls from spondees.
Trojan Horse
A massive wooden horse left by the Greeks outside Troy, secretly filled with Greek soldiers. It serves as the ultimate act of deception that leads to the city's downfall.
Example:
The unsuspecting Trojans celebrated, believing the Trojan Horse was a gift, unaware of the hidden danger within.
Venus's Intervention
The appearance of Aeneas's divine mother, Venus, who prevents him from killing Helen and reveals the gods actively destroying Troy. She urges him to flee and fulfill his destiny.
Example:
Venus's Intervention was crucial, shifting Aeneas's focus from vengeful anger to his destined path.
arx, arcis (f.)
A citadel or stronghold, typically built on a high point for defense. Laocoön rushes down from the *arx* to warn the Trojans.
Example:
From the towering arx, the Trojans could survey the plains, unaware of the impending doom.
caverna, cavernae (f.)
A cave or cavity. In Book 2, it specifically refers to the hollow interior of the Trojan Horse, where Greek soldiers were hidden.
Example:
The Trojans heard a groan from the caverna of the horse when Laocoön struck it with his spear.
dolus, doli (m.)
A trick or deceit. This term highlights the cunning nature of the Greeks, particularly Odysseus, in their strategy against Troy.
Example:
The Greeks' dolus was so convincing that the Trojans willingly brought their own destruction inside the city walls.
exuviae, exuviarum (f. pl.)
Spoils or armor stripped from a defeated enemy. Hector's ghost appears wearing the *exuviae* of Achilles, which he had taken in battle.
Example:
Hector's spectral form was still clad in the exuviae of Achilles, a grim reminder of his final battle.
fatum, fati (n.)
Fate or destiny. This noun emphasizes the predetermined nature of events in the epic, especially Troy's fall and Aeneas's future.
Example:
It was the fatum of Aeneas to survive the fall of Troy and establish a new lineage in Italy.
flamma, flammae (f.)
A flame or fire. This term vividly describes the burning of Troy as the Greeks sack the city.
Example:
The flammae of burning Troy lit up the night sky, a beacon of the city's destruction.
gens, gentis (f.)
A people, nation, or clan. Hector's ghost entrusts Aeneas with the future of his *gens*.
Example:
Aeneas was tasked with carrying the hopes of his gens to a new land.
ira, irae (f.)
Anger or wrath. Aeneas feels intense *ira* when he sees Helen, contemplating killing her before Venus intervenes.
Example:
Aeneas's ira flared when he saw Helen, the cause of so much suffering, hiding in the temple.
labor, laboris (m.)
Labor, effort, or toil. This word often describes the immense struggle and hardship faced by Aeneas on his journey.
Example:
Venus urged Aeneas to end his futile labor of fighting and flee Troy.
limen, liminis (n.)
A threshold or doorway. It can symbolize a point of entry or departure, or a significant boundary.
Example:
Aeneas hesitated at the limen of his home, knowing he might never return.
murus, muri (m.)
A wall. The Trojans breach their own city *murus* to bring the Trojan Horse inside, leading to their destruction.
Example:
The ancient murus of Troy, once thought impregnable, was breached by the Trojans themselves.
numen, numinis (n.)
Divine power or divinity. This term refers to the active presence and influence of the gods in human events.
Example:
The Trojans misinterpreted the serpents' attack as a sign of divine numen punishing Laocoön.
sanguis, sanguinis (m.)
Blood. This word is used to describe the gruesome scene of Laocoön and his sons being attacked by the serpents.
Example:
The altars were stained with the sanguis of the sacrificial bull before the serpents attacked.
serpens, serpentis (m./f.)
A serpent or snake. Two terrifying *serpentes* emerge from the sea to kill Laocoön and his sons, a sign misinterpreted by the Trojans.
Example:
Two monstrous serpentes coiled around Laocoön and his children, sealing their tragic end.
vitta, vittae (f.)
A headband or fillet, often worn by priests or for religious ceremonies. Laocoön is described wearing these when he is attacked.
Example:
Laocoön's priestly vitta was soaked with venom and blood as the serpents tightened their grip.