Similarities of the Iliad and Books 7-12 of The Aeneid
Virgil had the intent of making the last half of his epic resemble the Iliad. Aside from the obvious war and battle settings, the Aeneid has some major similarities to highlight. Knowing that this was the intention, the fact that the two stories have similarities are obvious. I simply wanted to share the similarities I found interesting.
As discussed in class, the first similarity to highlight is that both Achilles and Aeneas have a pivotal friend in who dies in battle which causes a similar reaction in each of them. Achilles’ dear friend Patroclus died at the hand of Hector which caused Achilles to emotionally react in a way so as to not respect Hector as a worthy enemy on the battlefield. Aeneas’ friend, and son of the King who treated him so kindly, Pallas was killed at the hands of Turnus. We see at the ending of the Aeneid that Aeneas has the same type of reaction that Achilles had toward Hector.
Another interesting similarity to note is that both stories have a point in their war where the fate of either side is to be decided by a single battle between the two pivotal people. The two pivotal people are also both fighting over a woman (more so in the Iliad than in the Aeneid). However, both of these fights in both of these stories is thwarted by the gods. In the Iliad, we have Paris and Menelaus fighting over Helen and Aphrodite brings Paris back to his room to keep him safe. In the Aeneid, we have a potential battle between Aeneas and Turnus, but when the two parties are making sacrifices, a goddess (I believe a nymph) stirs the hearts of the warriors and the battle continues.
A final similarity to note is that both stories end with the main character not actually reaching his ultimate destiny. The Iliad ends with Achilles asleep next to his Briseus, but we know that this is now how he is fated to end up. A glorious death is in store for him. The Aeneid ends with Aeneas killing Turnus, but we know that he is fated to be the founder of Rome. We do not see either of these fates actually accomplished in the story.
As stated earlier, these two stories were meant to be similar, as Virgil planned it that way. I just thought that sharing these would add to the value of the two stories.
