Book 1 Storm and Banquet

Virgil invokes the muse. The opening proem of Virgil states Aeneas was a man
fated to be an exile: a great pounding he took by land and sea at the hands of
the heavenly god because of the fierce and unforgetting anger of Juno.
Also Virgil states Great too were his sufferings in war. This was the
beginning of the Latin race and the high walls of Rome.
Junos anger in outlined:
1) Carthage is her favoured city, even more than Samos, and will be sacked
by Rome (Third Punic War 149-146 BC). In Carthage she keeps her armour and
chariot, she intended to give her people sovereignty over the earth, the fates
would not allow it.
2) She is still remembers her involvement in the Trojan War and the slight to
her beauty by the judgement of Paris.
3) She is furious of honours done for Ganymede, a Trojan boy, made immortal
cupbearer of Jupiter.

Juno bribes Aeolus with the most beautiful of her fourteen nymphs,
Deiopea, whom she promises will joined in lawful wedlock and give him
beautiful children. Aeolus strikes the mountain with the butt of his spear and
releases the winds on the Trojans.
The Trojans suffer; Aeneas raises his hands to the skies and cries that those
who died beneath the high walls of Troy with their fathers watching were many
times more fortunate. (Parallel to Odysseus)
Neptune is moved to anger as he sees the disturbance in his kingdom and
upon emerging recognises the anger and cunning of Juno. Sends the winds
away and calms the sea, he is described like a respected public figure
soothing the passions of a riotous mob.
Aeneas and seven ships land on Carthage, Aeneas sets out with Achates, they
hunt and take down seven stags, one for each ship. Aeneas returns and makes
an encouraging speech to his men reminding them of the suffering they have
already faced at the hands of the Scylla and the Cyclops. Aeneas masks the
misery deep in his heart.
Venus approaches Jupiter with her shining eyes brimming with tears,
complains of the suffering of the Trojans all because of the hatred of Juno.
Jupiters Prophecy which is part of the scroll of the Fates:
1) Aeneas will be deified and taken up to the stars of heaven.
2) Aeneas after a great war will defeat the tribes of Italy. Here he will build walls
for his people and establish a city, ruling for three years.
3) Ascanius will rule for thirty years and build a new kingdom in Alba Longa,
here the rule of the race of Hector will last for three hundred years.
4) Romulus will found Rome, on Romans Jupiter imposes no limits of time or place
and has given them an empire that will know no end.
5) Juno will come to better counsel and join with the cherishing of Romans, the
rulers of the world, the race that wears the toga.
6) Romans will subjugate the Greeks reducing Mycenae to slavery and will
conquer and rule the city of Argos.
7) Julius Caesar will be made a god
8) Rome will be at peace with justice, without war; the Gates of War will be closed.

Jupiter sends Mercury down to Carthage to make sure Dido is not hostile to the
Trojans and greets them hospitably; the queen takes into her heart a feeling of
quiet and kindness to the Trojans.

Aeneas sets out with Achates in the morning to explore Carthage. Venus
appears to them, disguised as a Tyrian girl but and looking like a
Spartan girl out hunting, Aeneas immediately recognises her as divine,
wondering if she is Diana or a nymph.
Venus informs then that this is a Phoenician kingdom, but the land belongs to
the Libyans. Dido, who came from the city of Tyre, is the leader. She outline
Didos story (Sychaeus and Dido wed. Didos brother Pygmalion is power
hungry. He kills Sychaeus and lies to Dido, to prevent her from discovering his
crime. However, Sychaeus appears to Dido in a dream, bruised and dead. He
tells her what has happened, and then helps her unearth hidden wealth. Dido,
with willing followers, escaped and arrived in Libya. She bought a piece of
land, as large as the hide of a bull, which is now known as Carthage.)
Aeneas is about to tell Venus about the hardship he has encountered, but
Venus interrupts him and sends him to the queens door and informs him that
his comrades are restored and his fleet is returned.
Venus reads an omen of Zeus: 12 swans flying in formation (representing
Aeneas ships) and the eagle of Zeus (representing the storm) was
scattering them. Some are reaching land some have already reached it.
As Venus turns away her neck shone with a rosy light and her hair breathed
the divine odour of ambrosia, Aeneas recognised his mother and chastises her.
Why do you so often mock me your own son with these disguises? You are too
cruel. Why am I never allowed to take you hand in mine?
As Aeneas approaches the city, Venus hides him and Achates in a great veil of
cloud, protecting her son.
Aeneas is amazed at the beginnings of civilisation in Carthage: the paved
streets, building the citadel, drawing up laws and electing
magistrates and a senate, laying deep foundation for a theatre
(perhaps a stage to the tragedy of Dido?). Carthage is like a hive seething
with activity and its people, like bees in the beginning of summer.
Aeneas exclaims that their walls are already rising.
The first Ekphrasis of the epic takes place as Aeneas is moved by the depiction
of The Trojan War on a frieze on the doors of Junos temple. Aeneas cries a
river of tears as he gazes at the scene; he is lost in amazement.
Dido arrives at the temple, described like Diana leading the dance on the
banks of the Eurotas, in the doorway of the goddess, under the middle of
the vault of the temple; she took her seat with armed guards around her.
Aeneas and Achates are stunned with joy and fear as they see there surviving
comrades, Ilioneus, the oldest of them, speaks to Dido announces them as
suppliants and tells of their suffering. They were on their way to Italy when
Orion rose in cloud and tempest and diverted their voyage.
Ilioneus says they mean the kingdom no harm, they do not intend to pillage
and plunder. He states that they mean to recover their ships and head to Italy,
if Aeneas or Iulus have survived the tempest. But will go back to Acestes
Kingdom if not.
Dido encourages the Trojans to have no fear; she is welcoming and promises to
assist them. She offers to share her kingdom with them, saying Trojan and
Tyrian will be one in her eyes.
She says she has heard of their sufferings and wishes Aeneas would also been
blown by the storm onto her shores. She says she will send men she trusts the
most in search of him and other survivors.

Achates and Aeneas are impatient to talk to the people, Achates saying
nothing is to be feared, all but one ship has been lost (Orontes leading the
Lycians).
The cloud is parted and Aeneas appears with the head and shoulders of a
god. Venus has breathed upon him, her work is described like added
embellishments to ivory, applied gilding to silver or Parian Marble.
Aeneas addresses Dido saying it is not within their power to repay her, says
may the gods bring her reward (ironic of tragic fate).
Dido was amazed at the sight of Aeneas and reflects on all the sufferings of
the Trojans, and through her own suffering she has learnt to help those who
suffer.
Dido led Aeneas into her royal palace, and appointed sacrifices to be offered in
the temples. She also sent down to Aeneas comrades 20 bulls, 100 hogs
backs and 100 lambs with their mothers as rich gifts to celebrate the day.
Meanwhile they prepare for a banquet.
A fathers love allowed Aeneas mind no rest, and he asked for Achates to
bring Ascanius to him, all his thoughts were on his own dear son. Achates also
brings gifts to Dido.
Venus, afraid of the house of Carthage and Juno, decided to change the form
and features of Cupid, and send him as Ascanius to inflame the heart of the
queen. To wind the fire of passion round her bones.
Venus plans to hide Ascanius, putting him in a deep sleep in one of her sacred
shrines above Idalium or the heights of Cythera.
Venus says he will only have to take on his appearance for just one night, and
then breathe fire and poison into Dido.
Dido meets Cupid (in disguise) and he marks her out to suffer.
Dido asks Aeneas to recount their tale.