Aeneas’s journey, as chronicled in Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid, is a legendary voyage fraught with peril, divine intervention, and the founding of a new civilization. The map of his journey traces a winding path from the ashes of Troy to the shores of Italy, shaping the course of Roman history and mythology.
The story begins with the fall of Troy. Aeneas, a Trojan prince and son of Venus, is tasked by the gods to escape the burning city and establish a new Troy in Italy. He gathers his surviving comrades and sets sail, his initial destination uncertain, guided only by prophecies and the will of the deities.
Their first major stop is Thrace, but unfavorable omens quickly drive them away. They next land on the island of Delos, where an oracle of Apollo directs them to seek their “ancient mother” – a land which Aeneas initially misinterprets as Crete. The Trojans settle in Crete, but a plague and further divine warnings force them to leave again, revealing Italy as their true destiny.
A violent storm, stirred up by Juno, a bitter enemy of the Trojans, throws the fleet off course and leads them to Carthage, on the coast of North Africa. Here, Aeneas and his men are welcomed by Queen Dido. A passionate love affair blossoms between them, but Aeneas is ultimately reminded by Jupiter of his higher purpose and destiny in Italy. He is compelled to abandon Dido, leaving her heartbroken and setting the stage for the future Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage.
Leaving Carthage, Aeneas’s fleet is once again battered by storms. They eventually reach Sicily, where they hold funeral games in honor of Aeneas’s father, Anchises, who had died during their travels. After a brief respite, they set sail again, facing further trials and tribulations at sea.
Finally, they arrive at Cumae, on the Italian peninsula. Here, Aeneas consults the Sibyl, a prophetess, who guides him on a harrowing descent into the Underworld. In the Underworld, Aeneas meets his deceased father, Anchises, who reveals the future glories of Rome and the descendants who will shape its destiny. This experience strengthens Aeneas’s resolve and prepares him for the challenges ahead.
From Cumae, Aeneas journeys north to Latium, the region destined to become the heart of Rome. He arrives at the mouth of the Tiber River and engages in a series of wars and alliances to secure his place. He battles against the Rutulian king Turnus, fights for the hand of Lavinia, and ultimately triumphs, establishing the foundation for the Roman race. His journey, therefore, is not just a physical one, but a symbolic representation of the trials and tribulations required to found a great nation.
