The Aeneid

The Aeneid by Virgil, is an epic poem that follows Aeneas, a Trojan prince driven from his fallen city and set upon a divinely ordained journey toward the shores of Italy. Blending myth, history, and prophecy, it lays out the legendary origins of Rome and the values that shaped one of the world’s most enduring civilizations. With its sweeping battles, haunting visions, and deep reflections on duty, fate, and identity, the story has influenced Western literature for more than two millennia. At the heart of the narrative is Aeneas himself - brave, solemn, and bound to the will of the gods. His travels carry him across the Mediterranean, where he confronts storms, hostile lands, and temptations that threaten to draw him away from his mission. Encounters with figures such as Queen Dido of Carthage and the Sibyl of Cumae explore the tension between personal longing and destiny, adding emotional weight to the grand themes of heroism and sacrifice. As Aeneas reaches Italy, the epic turns toward conflict and the forging of a new homeland. Prophecies, traditions, and divine interventions shape the unfolding struggle, linking the hero’s trials to the future of Rome itself. With its powerful storytelling and its influence on countless works of later poetry and prose, this timeless epic continues to attract readers searching for classic adventure, legendary journeys, and the roots of Roman myth. This translation by John Dryden was originally published in 1697.