Odysseus Journey In The Aeneid

A short summary of the Aeneid would be, Aeneas’ journey after the fall of Troy to the founding of Rome. It’s not a particularly personal journey, especially in comparison to the Odyssey where Odysseus makes his voyage home to his wife and son. While there is no doubt that Vergil has created a story about Aeneas and his experiences, the end result is about much more than his legacy, it is about the legacy of Rome. In contrast, Odysseus’ story is very narrow, having the greatest effect on those closest to him. Their treks into the Underworld are not much different. Odysseus experiences a very personal journey that affects his life and world, Aeneas, in contrast, journeys to Hades and finds his purpose and role in the founding of Rome, making

6: 431-436). This is particularly interesting because Palinurus doesn’t even need to ask for his burial, it is promised regardless. The biggest difference though, is that Sibyl doesn’t promise that Aeneas will do it himself, instead simply that he will be buried. Aeneas has a much more pressing matter at hand, founding Rome. He doesn’t have time to focus on dead comrades, he must be making his way towards the greater

Tiberius tells him, “And at last your own death will steal upon you… / a gentle, painless death, far from the sea it comes / to take you down, borne down with the years in ripe old age / with all your people there in blessed peace around you,” (Ody. 11: 153-156). After having spoken to Tiresias, he goes to his mother, “And with those words, / now that his prophecies had closed, the awesome shade / of lord Tiresias strode back to the House of Death. / But I kept watch there, steadfast till my mother approached and drank the dark, clouding blood,” (Ody. 11: 170-174). This moment where Odysseus cries for his mother, who has died in his time away from home, becomes the center point of Odysseus’ journey. He’s heard from Tiresias that he’ll make it home to Ithaca, but now he’s seen his mother who he hasn’t seen in more than ten years. They are reunited in death and Odysseus story becomes that much more devastating. Homer’s intentional choice for Odysseus to speak to his mother after hearing the prophecy makes Odysseus’ journey less about his heroic journey home, becoming more personal. It is now about Odysseus and his journey home to his family, some of whom are no longer