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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Aenas Biography ÆNEAS, in Greek legends, the son of Anchises, a prince of Troy, and of the goddess Venus. It is related that he married Creusa, the daughter of King Priam; that he was the bravest Trojan next to Hector; was beloved by men and gods, and, after the fall of Troy, carried his aged father from the city, while at the same time leading his son by the hand. He first sought refuge on Mount Ida, but soon built a fleet with which to sail to Carthage. Queen Dido extended a warm welcome to his company, and he later contemplated marrying her, but was warned by the gods and advised to seek a new home in Italy. His departure from Carthage so grieved Queen Dido that she killed herself and was placed on the funeral pyre, but even this was turned to the advantage of Æneas, since the ascending flames lighted his departure. With his fleet of twenty ships he visited many islands in the Mediterranean, but finally landed on the shores of Italy and sailed up the Tiber, proceeding up that river until he reached the country governed by King Latinus. He was not only kindly received, but married Lavinia, the daughter of the king, founded the city of Lavinium, and became the ancestral hero of the Roman people. He succeeded Latinus as king of Latinum, and died in battle against the Etruscans. He was succeeded by his son Ascanius, who founded the city of Alba Longa. King Numitor was also a descendant from Æneas, as also was Romulus, the founder of Rome. Æneas was made the hero of the "Æneid," a poem written by Virgil. The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopædia Vol. I (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 13. |