Aeneid Essay, Research Paper

The Greek and Roman spirit influenced the book Aeneid in many ways. Virgil made Aeneas & # 8217 ; behavior such that he was to the full qualified to be called a Roman hero. Aeneas reflected really few Grecian traits. He was really much the & # 8220 ; Roman hero. & # 8221 ; Grecian heroes were really different from Roman heroes. Will Durant, writer of Caesar and Christ says, & # 8220 ; It ( the Aeneid ) would besides demo the function of Roman character in these accomplishments and seek to do ancient virtuousnesss popular, it would visualize its hero as reverent of the Gods and guided by them and would fall in as Augusta reformation of ethical motives and religion & # 8221 ; ( 239 ) .Greek heroes were good rounded. Greeks would analyze music, dancing, rhetoric, doctrine, mathematics, physical preparation, and military scientific discipline. Analyzing rhetoric, doctrine, and mathematics made Greeks more utile citizens. The Greeks two chief beliefs were: cognize thyself, and nil in surplus. Greeks strove for arete` . Harmonizing to Hastings & # 8220 ; arete` is excellence & # 8221 ; . Roman heroes were considered great because of their accomplishments on the conflict field. Even though the Roman and Greek heads are greatly different they have a few similarities. Both the Romans and Greeks had 1polis. They did, nevertheless, have different definitions of place. The one thing remains changeless is that they would both put on the line their lives to make place. Aeneas had to put on the line his life to journey from Troy to make Italy where Rome was established. To the Romans, the province had to be placed above 1s demands. The Grecian definition of place is more household. Both the Roman and the Greeks respected and feared their Gods. Aeneas had Gods assisting and impeding him. The

goddess Juno was Aeneas’ enemy. Juno often interfered with Aeneas’ life. Juno tried to prevent Aeneas from reaching his goal. Aeneas’ goal was to establish Rome. The Greeks believed that anything that was pointless was like punishment. Like the Greeks, the Romans could see little sense in doing something that had no definite conclusion.As said before, Greeks had a strong dedication to their city-state. Aeneas had to reach Italy where Rome was established. Greeks believed in nothing in excess. This is shown in the Aeneid when Aeneas and his crew landed on the island, they found a Greek who was accidentally left behind. Instead of killing him, Aeneas treated him fairly. Aeneas showed self-control.Romans preferred war. It was in their nature to fight. They were raised to battle. Romans were not well rounded, their main or only study growing up was physical training and military science. Aeneas was very much Roman in this way. Aeneas was very skilled on the battle field. Unlike a Greek hero, a Roman hero could not be overcome by emotion or lack of self-control. Aeneas lost his best friend, Pallas, during the war to the enemy, Turnus. However, he was not overcome by thoughts of revenge as he continued fighting (Harris, 291). He tried to call a truce and he offered to conclude the war by challenging Turnus. He did not make this offer because Turnus killed Pallas, but because Turnus started the war.Roman spirit was the major influence of the Aeneid. Unlike the Greek heroes, Aeneas did not let is emotions interfere with his goals. This trait helped him to accomplish his goal even though Aeneas did not get to see Rome after all his sacrifices.