Aeneid :: essays research papers

The classic and roman spirit influenced the book Aeneid in many ways. Virgil make Aeneas behavior such(prenominal) that he was fully qualified to be called a Roman hero. Aeneas reflected really few Grecian traits. He was very much the "Roman hero."Greek heroes were very diverse from Roman heroes. Will Durant, author of Caesar and Christ says, "It (the Aeneid) would as well show the role of Roman character in these achievements and catch up withk to fix ancient virtues popular, it would picture its hero as reverent of the gods and guided by them and would fall in as Augusta reformation of morals and doctrine" (239).Greek heroes were well rounded. Greeks would study music, dancing, rhetoric, philosophy, mathematics, physical training, and military science. Studying rhetoric, philosophy, and mathematics made Greeks more useful citizens. The Greeks two main beliefs were know thyself, and nothing in excess. Greeks strove for arete. According to Hastings "arete is excellence". Roman heroes were considered great because of their achievements on the affair field. Even though the Roman and Greek minds are greatly different they have a few similarities. both(prenominal) the Romans and Greeks had 1polis. They did, however, have different definitions of home. The sensation thing remains constant is that they would both put on the line their lives to reach home. Aeneas had to risk his life to journey from Troy to reach Italy where Rome was established. To the Romans, the state had to be placed above ones needs. The Greek definition of home is more family. Both the Roman and the Greeks respected and feared their gods. Aeneas had gods helping and hindering him. The goddess Juno was Aeneas enemy. Juno often interfered with Aeneas life. Juno tried to retain 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 s ense 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 that study growing up was physical training and military science.