Prophecy and Divine Intervention in Virgil’s Aeneid

Both prophecy and divine intervention play very important roles in The Aeneid. They constantly influence Aeneas’s journey. Therefore, there are many examples of them. However, this essay will only examine four examples of prophecy and four examples of divine intervention. The first example of prophecy is from the scene between Jupiter and his daughter, Venus, in Book I, lines 347-379. The second example of prophecy is from the scene between Apollo, Aeneas, and the Trojans in Book III, lines 130-135. The third example of prophecy is from the scene between the Phrygian hearth-gods and Aeneas in Book III, lines 217-223. The fourth example of prophecy is from the scene between Anchises and his son, Aeneas, in Book VI, lines 1015-1154. The first example of divine intervention is from the scene Neptune, Aeneas, and the Trojans in Book I, lines 171-200. The second example of divine intervention is from the scene between Venus, her son Cupid, and Dido in Book I, lines 895-940. The third example of divine intervention is from the scene between Jupiter, Mercury, and Aeneas in Book IV, lines 300-375. The fourth example of divine intervention is from the scene between Venus and her husband, Vulcan, in Book VIII, lines 491-992. These eight scenes are captivating to the reader because they foreshadow Rome’s future greatness, which keeps the reader interested.

Jupiter prophesies the founding and future greatness of Rome in Book I, lines 347-379. Jupiter calms Venus, who is distressed by the suffering of her son, Aeneas, and the Trojans. He reassures her that the destiny of Aeneas and the Trojans has not been changed (The Aeneid, 12). This shows that Aeneas’s and the Trojan’s destiny is divinely ordained. Aeneas will fight a massive war in Italy, beat down armies, and set up the city walls of Lavinium, and a way of life for the people there (The Aeneid, 12). Then, Ascanius will move his capital from Lavinium and found Alba Longa (The Aeneid, 13). Jupiter is tracing Rome’s lineage all the way back to Aeneas and Ascanius to show that Rome has heroic roots. Jupiter goes into further detail about Rome’s founding and greatness. Jupiter presents a grand, mythical tale about Romulus “building the walls of Mars” and calling his people the Romans (The Aeneid, 13). Jupiter emphasizes that this empire will be an “empire without end,” which shows that this empire will have power forever (The Aeneid, 13). The Romans will be the “Lords of the world” (The Aeneid, 13). This means that they will have great power over the world.

Furthermore, Apollo prophesies to Aeneas and the Trojans in Book III, verses 130-135. Apollo’s prophecy gives Aeneas and the Trojans the instruction to look for their “mother of old” (The Aeneid, 68). This “mother of old,” which is Rome, is destined to be their home. Apollo’s prophecy further confirms that Aeneas’s descendants will create an empire that will “rule the world’s shores” throughout the years (The Aeneid, 68). This highlights the importance of Aeneas and his descendants, for they will fulfill the divine plan of founding Rome. This also highlights that Rome will rule the world.

The Phrygian hearth-gods appear to Aeneas to explain the prophecy of Apollo in Book III, verses 217-223. They reassert the supremacy of Rome. They tell Aeneas that he “must prepare great walls for a great race” (The Aeneid, 71). This prophecy refers to Aeneas and his descendants establishing the Roman Empire. The use of the words “great walls” and “great race” foreshadows the future greatness of Rome. The “great walls” and “great race” also symbolize the power of the Roman Empire.

Anchises also provides a prophetic vision of Rome’s future greatness in Book VI, lines 1015-1154. Anchises starts by revealing that the children in Aeneas’s line will be famous (The Aeneid, 186). He is revealing to Aeneas his future descendants, so that he can teach him his destiny. Anchises points out Aeneas’s descendant, Romulus, the founder of Rome (The Aeneid, 187). His seeing Romulus leads him to speak about Rome. He points out that “Rome will bound her power with earth” and her “spirit with Olympus” (The Aeneid, 187). He is revealing that Rome’s greatness will have both earthly power and divine guidance. He says that Rome is “fortunate in the men she breeds” (The Aeneid, 187). This means that Rome will bring forth strong, powerful, and successful leaders. These leaders will keep Rome successful and prosperous. Then, Anchises points out Aeneas’s descendant, Caesar Augustus, who will bring an “Age of Gold” (The Aeneid, 187). There will be a golden age in Rome. In lines 1151-1154, Anchises further highlights Rome’s destiny. He says, “Roman, remember by your strength to rule / Earth’s peoples – for your arts are to be these: / To pacify, to impose the rule of law, / To spare the conquered, battle down the proud” (The Aeneid, 190). He is highlighting the values and ideals that Rome will stand for. The fate of Rome will be great with these values and ideals.

In Book I, lines 171-200, Neptune intervenes by calming the storm. He quiets the waters, he drives the clouds away in the skies, and he brings the light of the sun back (The Aeneid, 8). By calming the storm, Neptune saves Aeneas and the Trojans. This divine intervention ensures that Aeneas’s journey to found Rome will continue and be fulfilled. This shows that the destiny of the establishment of Rome is divinely ordained. This also shows the future greatness of Rome because the gods are trying to help make its establishment be fulfilled. The gods would not intervene if the Roman Empire were not meant to be great.

Following from Neptune, Venus intervenes by sending her son, Cupid, to ignite Dido’s passion for Aeneas (Book I, lines 895-940). Venus wants Cupid to disguise himself as Aeneas’s son, Ascanius (The Aeneid, 27). Then she wants him to make Dido infatuated with Aeneas (The Aeneid, 27). Venus is doing this to ensure that Aeneas is safe. She believes that Dido’s passion for Aeneas will keep him secure in Carthage. The safety of Aeneas highlights how the destiny of Rome is secure. He is saved by divine intervention so that he can fulfill his destiny and become the founder of Rome.

In Book IV, lines 300-375, Jupiter intervenes by sending Mercury to Carthage to Aeneas. Mercury goes to Carthage to Aeneas to remind him of his destiny (The Aeneid, 104-105). He rebukes Aeneas. He tells him to think of his son, Ascanius (The Aeneid, 105). When he says, “think of Ascanius,” he is reminding Aeneas of his paternal responsibility to his son (The Aeneid, 105). The destiny of Rome depends on Aeneas and his son, Ascanius. Aeneas must leave Carthage to secure his family’s legacy and bring about the Roman Empire. Aeneas’s family will be responsible for giving Rome its future greatness.

In Book VIII, lines 491-992, Venus once again intervenes on behalf of Aeneas by turning to her husband, Vulcan, who forges a shield for Aeneas, which depicts the future greatness of Rome. At first, Venus, who is frightened by the “menaces of the Laurentines and their hostile rising,” turns to Vulcan (The Aeneid, 242). She puts her “divine desire into every word” in her speech (The Aeneid, 242). This is so that she can persuade her husband to accept her request. She has never made him toil before (The Aeneid, 243). However, she wants him to toil now. Now, she comes to him, begging for him to forge armor, as “a mother begging for her son” (The Aeneid, 243). By begging, she is showing how desperate she is to keep her son safe. Through her embrace, Vulcan instantly felt the “flame of love” within himself (The Aeneid, 243). This made him fell captive to “immortal passion” (The Aeneid, 243). He assures her that she does not need to beg him for his gifts (The Aeneid, 243). He agrees to her request. This shows Vulcan’s love and desire for Venus.

Then, “near the coast of Sicily and Aeolian Lipari,” in a cave, underneath the volcano, Aetna, is where Vulcan and his workers, the Cyclopes, will forge the armor and shield (The Aeneid, 244). They shaped a seven-layered, magnificent shield that will stand against all weapons (The Aeneid, 245). This highlights how powerful the shield is. Then, Venus, coming down from “high clouds,” saw her son, Aeneas, and presented him with the armor and shield that Vulcan forged (The Aeneid, 251). The fabric of the shield was “beyond description” to Aeneas (The Aeneid, 252). This means that Aeneas did not know what the shield depicts. However, Vulcan knew what the shield should depict when he forged it.

Vulcan, who is known as “There the Lord of Fire,” knows the prophets and the future events of Rome (The Aeneid, 252). On the shield, he created scenes about the future events of Rome. The scenes highlight the triumphs of the Romans. They also highlight the wars that “Ascanius’ heirs” fought (The Aeneid, 252). The shield’s depictions foreshadow the founding of Rome, the rise of the Roman Empire, and the destiny of Aeneas’s descendants (The Aeneid, 252-255). Aeneas marvels at the shield. In lines 987-992, it reads, “All these images on Vulcan’s shield, / His mother’s gift, were wonders to Aeneas. / Knowing nothing of the events themselves, / He felt joy in their pictures, taking up / Upon his shoulder all the destined acts / And fame of his descendants” (The Aeneid, 256). These last lines highlight the connection between Aeneas’s mission and the destiny of Rome’s future greatness. These lines strengthen Aeneas’s role as a founder of Rome and an ancestor of the Roman people.

The scene between Jupiter and Venus is captivating in its foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because Jupiter is trying to tell Venus that Aeneas is a hero. She needed to know that Aeneas will live and be a founder of Rome and ancestor of the Roman people. The scene between Apollo, Aeneas, and the Trojans is captivating in its foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because the prophecy gives Aeneas and the Trojans a better sense of their destiny. They are destined to found the powerful Roman Empire. The scene between the Phrygian hearth-gods and Aeneas is captivating in its foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because of the symbolism of “great walls” and “great race.” The walls of Rome will be strong fortifications, and the Roman race will dominate the world. The scene between Anchises and Aeneas is captivating in its foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because Anchises is encouraging Aeneas. He is trying to show Aeneas that his journey and struggles are worthwhile.

The scene between Neptune, Aeneas, and the Trojans is captivating in its foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because it shows that the gods are working to fulfill Rome’s destiny. The scene between Venus, her son Cupid, and Dido is captivating in its foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because it shows how worried Venus is for her son and his destiny. She wants to keep him safe so that he can go through his journey. The scene between Jupiter, Mercury, and Aeneas is captivating in its foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because Mercury is making Aeneas prioritize his destiny as a founder of Rome. The scene between Venus and Vulcan is captivating in it is foreshadowing of Rome’s future greatness because Venus is doing all she can to keep her son safe. Vulcan, at the request of Venus, creates a shield that is more than just a weapon. It foreshadows the history of Rome. Aeneas is carrying the entire destiny of Rome on his shoulder. The reader will be interested in these captivating scenes because they are crucial to the shaping of the future greatness of Rome.

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