Aeneid Vs Odyssey

Similar to both The Iliad and The Odyssey, The Aeneid is first and foremost an epic, which means it is a long poem that follows the journey of a hero/legendary figure, or the history of a nation. The Aeneid meets all of the base parts of an epic, as does The Iliad and The Odyssey. Aeneas, Achilles, and Odysseus in The Aeneid, The Iliad, and The Odyssey respectively represent some common qualities of heroes in an epic. All of the stories also follow the journey of heroes and the gods, and all of the stories give history to a nation. The Iliad and The Odyssey give history to the Trojans and the Achaeans and the feud between them that escalated in battle, and The Aeneid tells more of the Trojans plights and the founding of Rome and the journey

The common traits include noble birth, being a great warrior, special ability to fight or succeed, interacting with a supernatural force, national fame, travels to many places, and courage. Both Achilles and Odysseus have notable backgrounds because of being descended from nobles and both have strong reputations as fighters. In a similar matter, Aeneas who is the son of Anchises and the goddess Venus, is also shown to have power and a good reputation as a fighter. Aeneas was a skilled fighter in the Trojan war, and fights in battles throughout The Aeneid, mainly against Turnus. However Achilles was said to be the best fighter of the Trojan War, not Aeneas, and Odysseus was also said to be one of the most skilled fighters too. A time where Odysseus’ skills are shown is when Melanos talks of how great his deeds were and how he was one of the most skilled fighters. Achilles’ special ability to fight and succeed may have been in part due to his mother being a goddess. Odysseus’ patronage from Athena also gives him special talent in fighting and an edge in knowing how to handle different circumstances he encounters such as how to take care of the suitors. Aeneas proves himself to be a great warrior when he kills Turnus is one-to-one combat. The main fight between the two men shows how Aeneas is both a skilled warrior and driven by

Aeneas fights less supernatural creatures than Achilles or Odysseus, but he still receives aid from the goddesses Venus and opposition from Juno. Achilles actually fights many supernatural creatures himself, and Odysseus recieves patronage from Athena and fights a few of them. Athena is a key godess for both of these heroes; she helps them succeed in their many endeavors. In Odysseus’s case, Athena gives him commands on how to get home and to act in order that he might get revenge on the suitors, and she gives him protection through disguises and information. Odysseus encounters many other supernatural beings that wish to cause him harm, some examples being the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Witch Circe, Scylla and Charybdis, and more. Achilles’ interactions with the supernatural are mostly just with the gods and goddesses through their support and fighting in battle. Similar to Achilles, Aeneas is more geared towards the gods and interactions with them. Juno does not want the Trojans to succeed so she always sabotages them, and Venus wants her son to be the founder of Rome so she always aids him. Aeneas receives a shield, spear, and helmet from his mother to help protect him and keep him successful in battle. Zeus is in the middle of the interactions with the gods and tries to remain neutral but is not very successful. In the Trojan war the gods and goddesses