Have you ever stopped to think of some "founding myths" of our country? What comes to mind? Do you think of people like Paul Bunyan or Johnny Appleseed? Stories like George Washington cutting down his father's cherry tree? The Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoying the first Thanksgiving meal? Why do we tell these stories? Are they real? Does it matter?
In this chapter we are going to explore the myth of Aeneas, the hero of Vergil's Aeneid, and think about why the Romans liked this story and why it was important to their culture. To start, though, we need to go back further and understand one of the key myths of Greek history, the Trojan War. As we go, think about the questions I asked above and compare these stories to our own!
In this chapter we are going to explore the myth of Aeneas, the hero of Vergil's Aeneid, and think about why the Romans liked this story and why it was important to their culture. To start, though, we need to go back further and understand one of the key myths of Greek history, the Trojan War. As we go, think about the questions I asked above and compare these stories to our own!
The Trojan War
In this chapter's culture unit, we are introduced to Aeneas, the hero of Vergil's epic poem and masterpiece, the Aeneid. At the start of the year, we learned a little bit about Romulus and Remus, as well as the founding of the city of Rome. In the Aeneid, Vergil creates a story that tells about where the Roman people came from. In order to glorify Rome's past, Vergil makes a connection to the Trojan War, the famous 10 year war that is the subject of Homer's Iliad.
World History Encyclopedia Article: Trojan War
To start understanding the Trojan War, click here to read an Ancient History Encyclopedia article. Then, take a look at the list of key figures below and watch the YouTube video to get a quick overview of the Trojan War.
Key Figures
Greeks
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Trojans
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Trojan War Visuals
Take a look below at some clips from the 2004 movie, Troy, which depicts some major events from the Iliad.
The famous fight between Menelaus and Paris
The famous fight between Achilles and Hector
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The Greeks struggle to break the walls of Troy
The "Trojan Horse"
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Aeneas' Journey
Vergil picks up the story right after the fall of Troy. Aeneas, a Trojan hero, leads a group of refugees who have escaped the destruction of Troy. Aeneas is tasked by the gods to lead the Trojan refugees and find a new home. The only problem is that he is not sure where to go. This leads to a long journey across the Mediterranean, ending with a direct connection to the rise of Rome. Take a look at the Prezi below to learn about Aeneas' journey.
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The Aeneid
World History Encyclopedia Article: The Aeneid
To start understanding the Aeneid, click here to read an Ancient History Encyclopedia article.
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Aerial view of Troy. pic.twitter.com/tRr4UPBjsv
— Ioannis Tz (@tzoumio) December 11, 2019
The Trojan War: Real or Fake?
To learn more about the Trojan War and the (real!) city of Troy, check out this great website from the University of Cincinnati-- click here. Also, take a look at the videos below!
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Continue Learning!
To learn more about the Iliad, click here and read the Ancient History Encyclopedia article. Or better yet, go read them yourself!
Also, check out the "Lost Worlds: Troy" documentary below...
Also, check out the "Lost Worlds: Troy" documentary below...