Aeneid 3 Plot Summary

Front 1

After escaping from Troy, he leads the survivors to the coast of Antander, where they build a new fleet of ships.

Back 1

Aeneas continues his story, recounting the aftermath of the fall of Troy.

They sail first to Thrace, where Aeneas prepares to offer sacrifices. When he tears at the roots and branches of a tree, dark blood soaks the ground and the bark.

Front 2

They sail first to Thrace, where Aeneas prepares to offer sacrifices. When he tears at the roots and branches of a tree, dark blood soaks the ground and the bark.

Back 2

After escaping from Troy, he leads the survivors to the coast of Antander, where they build a new fleet of ships.

The tree speaks to him, revealing itself to be the spirit of Polydorus, son of Priam.

Front 3

The tree speaks to him, revealing itself to be the spirit of Polydorus, son of Priam.

Back 3

They sail first to Thrace, where Aeneas prepares to offer sacrifices. When he tears at the roots and branches of a tree, dark blood soaks the ground and the bark.

Priam had sent Polydorus to the king of Thrace to be safe from the war, but when Troy fell, the Thracian king sided with the Greeks and killed Polydorus.

Front 4

Priam had sent Polydorus to the king of Thrace to be safe from the war, but when Troy fell, the Thracian king sided with the Greeks and killed Polydorus.

Back 4

The tree speaks to him, revealing itself to be the spirit of Polydorus, son of Priam.

After holding a funeral for Polydorus, Aeneas and the Trojans embark from Thrace with a sense of dread at the Thracian violation of the ethics of hospitality.

Front 5

Priam had sent Polydorus to the king of Thrace to be safe from the war, but when Troy fell, the Thracian king sided with the Greeks and killed Polydorus.

Back 5

The tree speaks to him, revealing itself to be the spirit of Polydorus, son of Priam.

After holding a funeral for Polydorus, Aeneas and the Trojans embark from Thrace with a sense of dread at the Thracian violation of the ethics of hospitality.

Front 6

After holding a funeral for Polydorus, Aeneas and the Trojans embark from Thrace with a sense of dread at the Thracian violation of the ethics of hospitality.

Back 6

Priam had sent Polydorus to the king of Thrace to be safe from the war, but when Troy fell, the Thracian king sided with the Greeks and killed Polydorus.

They sail southward to the holy island of Delos. At Delos, Apollo speaks to Aeneas, instructing him to go to the land of his ancestors.

Front 7

They sail southward to the holy island of Delos. At Delos, Apollo speaks to Aeneas, instructing him to go to the land of his ancestors.

Back 7

After holding a funeral for Polydorus, Aeneas and the Trojans embark from Thrace with a sense of dread at the Thracian violation of the ethics of hospitality.

Anchises interprets Apollo's remark as a reference to the island of Crete, where one of the great Trojan forefathers—Teucrus, after whom the Trojans are sometimes called Teucrians—had long ago ruled.

Front 8

Anchises interprets Apollo's remark as a reference to the island of Crete, where one of the great Trojan forefathers—Teucrus, after whom the Trojans are sometimes called Teucrians—had long ago ruled.

Back 8

They sail southward to the holy island of Delos. At Delos, Apollo speaks to Aeneas, instructing him to go to the land of his ancestors.

Aeneas and his group sail to Crete and began to build a new city, but a terrible plague soon strikes.

Front 9

Aeneas and his group sail to Crete and began to build a new city, but a terrible plague soon strikes.

Back 9

Anchises interprets Apollo's remark as a reference to the island of Crete, where one of the great Trojan forefathers—Teucrus, after whom the Trojans are sometimes called Teucrians—had long ago ruled.

The gods of Troy appear to Aeneas in a dream and explain that his father is mistaken: the ancestral land to which Apollo referred is not Crete but Italy, the original home of Dardanus, from whom the Trojans take the name Dardanians. These hearth gods also reassert the prophecy of Roman supremacy, declaring, “You must prepare great walls for a great race”

Front 10

The gods of Troy appear to Aeneas in a dream and explain that his father is mistaken: the ancestral land to which Apollo referred is not Crete but Italy, the original home of Dardanus, from whom the Trojans take the name Dardanians. These hearth gods also reassert the prophecy of Roman supremacy, declaring, “You must prepare great walls for a great race”

Back 10

Aeneas and his group sail to Crete and began to build a new city, but a terrible plague soon strikes.

The Trojan refugees take to the sea again. A cover of black storm clouds hinders them. They land at the Strophades, islands of the Harpies, fierce bird-creatures with feminine faces.

Front 11

The Trojan refugees take to the sea again. A cover of black storm clouds hinders them. They land at the Strophades, islands of the Harpies, fierce bird-creatures with feminine faces.

Back 11

The gods of Troy appear to Aeneas in a dream and explain that his father is mistaken: the ancestral land to which Apollo referred is not Crete but Italy, the original home of Dardanus, from whom the Trojans take the name Dardanians. These hearth gods also reassert the prophecy of Roman supremacy, declaring, “You must prepare great walls for a great race”

The Trojans slaughter many cows and goats that are roaming free and hold a feast, provoking an attack from the Harpies.

Front 12

The Trojans slaughter many cows and goats that are roaming free and hold a feast, provoking an attack from the Harpies.

Back 12

The Trojan refugees take to the sea again. A cover of black storm clouds hinders them. They land at the Strophades, islands of the Harpies, fierce bird-creatures with feminine faces.

To no avail, the Trojans attempt to fight the Harpies off,

Front 13

To no avail, the Trojans attempt to fight the Harpies off,

Back 13

The Trojans slaughter many cows and goats that are roaming free and hold a feast, provoking an attack from the Harpies.

and one of the horrible creatures places a curse upon them. Confirming that they are destined for Italy, she prophesies that the Trojans will not establish their city until hunger forces them to try to eat their very tables.

Front 14

and one of the horrible creatures places a curse upon them. Confirming that they are destined for Italy, she prophesies that the Trojans will not establish their city until hunger forces them to try to eat their very tables.

Back 14

To no avail, the Trojans attempt to fight the Harpies off,

Disturbed by the episode, the Trojans depart for the island of Leucata, where they make offerings at a shrine to Apollo.

Front 15

Disturbed by the episode, the Trojans depart for the island of Leucata, where they make offerings at a shrine to Apollo.

Back 15

and one of the horrible creatures places a curse upon them. Confirming that they are destined for Italy, she prophesies that the Trojans will not establish their city until hunger forces them to try to eat their very tables.

Next, they set sail in the direction of Italy until they reach Buthrotum, in Chaonia.

Front 16

Next, they set sail in the direction of Italy until they reach Buthrotum, in Chaonia.

Back 16

Disturbed by the episode, the Trojans depart for the island of Leucata, where they make offerings at a shrine to Apollo.

There, Aeneas is astonished to discover that Helenus, one of Priam's sons, has become king of a Greek city. Helenus and Andromachë had been taken by Pyrrhus as war prizes, but seized power over part of their captor's kingdom after he was killed.

Front 17

There, Aeneas is astonished to discover that Helenus, one of Priam's sons, has become king of a Greek city. Helenus and Andromachë had been taken by Pyrrhus as war prizes, but seized power over part of their captor's kingdom after he was killed.

Back 17

Next, they set sail in the direction of Italy until they reach Buthrotum, in Chaonia.

Aeneas meets Andromachë and she relates the story of her and Helenus's captivity.

Front 18

Aeneas meets Andromachë and she relates the story of her and Helenus's captivity.

Back 18

There, Aeneas is astonished to discover that Helenus, one of Priam's sons, has become king of a Greek city. Helenus and Andromachë had been taken by Pyrrhus as war prizes, but seized power over part of their captor's kingdom after he was killed.

Helenus then arrives and advises Aeneas on the path ahead. Andromachë adds that to reach the western coast of Italy it is necessary to take the long way around Sicily, to the south.

Front 19

Helenus then arrives and advises Aeneas on the path ahead. Andromachë adds that to reach the western coast of Italy it is necessary to take the long way around Sicily, to the south.

Back 19

Aeneas meets Andromachë and she relates the story of her and Helenus's captivity.

The short path, a narrow gap of water between Sicily and Italy, is rendered practically impossible to navigate by two potentially lethal hazards: Charybdis, a whirlpool, and Scylla, a six-headed monster.

Front 20

The short path, a narrow gap of water between Sicily and Italy, is rendered practically impossible to navigate by two potentially lethal hazards: Charybdis, a whirlpool, and Scylla, a six-headed monster.

Back 20

Helenus then arrives and advises Aeneas on the path ahead. Andromachë adds that to reach the western coast of Italy it is necessary to take the long way around Sicily, to the south.

Following Andromachë's instructions, Aeneas pilots his fleet along the southern coast of Italy to Sicily, where Mount Etna is erupting in the distance.

Front 21

Following Andromachë's instructions, Aeneas pilots his fleet along the southern coast of Italy to Sicily, where Mount Etna is erupting in the distance.

Back 21

The short path, a narrow gap of water between Sicily and Italy, is rendered practically impossible to navigate by two potentially lethal hazards: Charybdis, a whirlpool, and Scylla, a six-headed monster.

Resting on a beach, the Trojans are startled by a ragged stranger who begs to be taken aboard.

Front 22

Resting on a beach, the Trojans are startled by a ragged stranger who begs to be taken aboard.

Back 22

Following Andromachë's instructions, Aeneas pilots his fleet along the southern coast of Italy to Sicily, where Mount Etna is erupting in the distance.

He was in the Greek army under Ulysses, and his crew was captured by a giant Cyclops on Sicily and barely escaped alive.

Front 23

He was in the Greek army under Ulysses, and his crew was captured by a giant Cyclops on Sicily and barely escaped alive.

Back 23

Resting on a beach, the Trojans are startled by a ragged stranger who begs to be taken aboard.

He reports that Ulysses stabbed the monster in his one eye to allow their escape.

Front 24

He reports that Ulysses stabbed the monster in his one eye to allow their escape.

Back 24

He was in the Greek army under Ulysses, and his crew was captured by a giant Cyclops on Sicily and barely escaped alive.

As the stranger finishes telling the Trojans his tale, the blinded Cyclops nearly stumbles upon the group.

Front 25

As the stranger finishes telling the Trojans his tale, the blinded Cyclops nearly stumbles upon the group.

Back 25

He reports that Ulysses stabbed the monster in his one eye to allow their escape.

The Trojans make a quick escape with the Greek straggler, just as the other Cyclopes come down to the shore.

Front 26

The Trojans make a quick escape with the Greek straggler, just as the other Cyclopes come down to the shore.

Back 26

As the stranger finishes telling the Trojans his tale, the blinded Cyclops nearly stumbles upon the group.

Sailing around Sicily, they pass several recognizable landmarks before landing at Drepanum

Front 27

Sailing around Sicily, they pass several recognizable landmarks before landing at Drepanum

Back 27

The Trojans make a quick escape with the Greek straggler, just as the other Cyclopes come down to the shore.

where Aeneas endures yet another unexpected loss: his father's death.

Front 28

where Aeneas endures yet another unexpected loss: his father's death.

Back 28

Sailing around Sicily, they pass several recognizable landmarks before landing at Drepanum

Aeneas turns to Dido and concludes his story by saying that divine will has driven him to her shores.

Front 29

Aeneas turns to Dido and concludes his story by saying that divine will has driven him to her shores.

Back 29

where Aeneas endures yet another unexpected loss: his father's death.