Piety In The Aeneid

In Vergil’s Aeneid, the themes of piety and war are prevalent throughout the entire work. These two themes were hallmarks of Roman culture and society. The Roman people were caught up in many wars throughout their history, both domestically and abroad. By the time of Vergil’s writing, the Romans were very aware of the effects of war on people and society. Piety, or respect for one’s forefathers and traditions, was placed in the highest regard and bound many Roman traditions and customs together. The Aeneid expresses piety using dialogue, specific characters, and events. One such instance is the appearance of the ghost of Hector in book two. Hector, a well-known hero of Troy, appears to Aeneas in a dream, warning him to leave the city as it is about to be destroyed by the Greeks.

This reference to a character in the Iliad legitimizes Vergil’s poem as an epic, as it takes place in or around the age of heroes. In the Iliad, Hector is the main antagonist of the story. In Vergil’s Aeneid, Hector does not take on this role. As a ghost, he comes to Aeneas with caution and prophecy. Like in most epic poems, ghosts play a pivotal role in the storytelling of epic. They often give wisdom and advice to the protagonists, foreshadowing the events to come.

In the Aeneid, Hector catalyzes Aeneas and set him on his path to becoming the ancestor of the Roman people. Vergil describes Hector as “gaunt with sorrow, streaming tears, all torn…” (line 364) This image of Hector highlights the cost of war on a person, as well as society. His image is solemn and graven, but despite his disparity, he remains dignified and has his wits about him. Hector’s melancholic appearance and lack of regard for whom he is addressing are typical of ghostly encounters found in epic poetry. He was sent to deliver a message to Aeneas, and that is exactly what he