Aeneid Summary
Description
Here you will find a Aeneid summary (Virgil's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters Aeneid Summary Overview
In the aftermath of the Trojan War, Aeneas and his cohorts, survivors from the city of Troy, embark on a journey in the Mediterranean Sea, their goal being to establish the city of Rome in Italy. A fierce storm diverts them to Carthage, where they are warmly received by Dido, the city's founder and ruler. Aeneas recounts their harrowing journey thus far, including the fall of Troy due to the Greeks' Trojan horse strategy, his escape with his father Anchises, son Ascanius and the deities of their ruined city. Along their journey, they face several challenges, including failed attempts to start a new city, curses from mythical creatures and the death of Anchises, before landing in Carthage. Dido, deeply moved by Aeneas' story, falls in love with him and they become lovers. However, Aeneas heeds divine reminders of his destiny and decides to continue his journey, leaving a heartbroken Dido, who ends her life on a pyre of Aeneas' castaway possessions. On their way to Italy, the Trojans are detoured to Sicily due to harsh weather, where they pay tribute to Anchises. A dream of his father revitalizes Aeneas, and they head toward Italy. Once there, Aeneas visits the underworld, guided by the Sibyl of Cumae, where he learns about Rome's future history, which fortifies his resolve to fulfill his mission. Upon their arrival in Italy, King Latinus welcomes them, hoping Aeneas is the foreigner prophesied to marry his daughter, Lavinia. However, Latinus' wife Amata has her own matrimonial plans for Lavinia and stirs resentment against the Trojans. Following an unfortunate hunting incident involving Ascanius, tensions escalate into war. Aeneas, advised by the river god Tiberinus, sails north to gain military allies, returning to find his fellow Trojans at war. The death of Pallas, son of Aeneas' ally Evander, by Turnus, furthers the conflict. The war culminates in a duel between Aeneas and Turnus, with Aeneas emerging victorious, avenging Pallas' death by killing Turnus.
book 1
Virgil starts his epic with the topic, "war and a man in conflict," seeking a muse's guidance to shed light on the wrath of Juno, the queen of the gods (I.1). The protagonist is Aeneas, who is escaping the wreckage of Troy, his homeland, devastated after the war against Achilles and the Greeks. The remaining Trojans join Aeneas on a risky voyage to set up a new home in Italy, but they have to deal with the spiteful Juno who dislikes Aeneas due to a prophecy that the lineage from the Trojans will ultimately destroy her favored city, Carthage. Her resentment against Troy is further fueled by the fact that a Trojan, Paris, declared Juno's competitor Venus as the fairest in a divine beauty contest. Juno commands Aeolus, the wind god, to unleash a mighty storm on Aeneas, who is sailing south of Sicily in search of a friendly port. Aeolus complies, wreaking havoc on the battle-fatigued Trojans. Aeneas looks on in terror as the storm draws closer. Their ships get blown off course and dispersed as the storm escalates. Sensing the storm in his realm, Neptune, the sea god, confronts the winds, reproaching Aeolus for overstepping his limits and calming the seas just as Aeneas' fleet appears doomed. Seven ships survive and make their way to the nearest land – the Libyan coast. On reaching the shore, Aeneas, weary and worried, uplifts his companions' spirits by reminding them of their past hardships and their predestined end. At the same time, Venus, Aeneas's mother, watching the Trojans' plight from Mount Olympus, pleads with Jupiter, the king of gods, for their relief. Jupiter assures her of Aeneas' future home in Italy and the mighty empire his descendants, Romulus and Remus, will establish. He then dispatches a god to Carthage to ensure the Trojans receive a warm welcome. Aeneas, oblivious of these divine interventions, encounters Venus in the woods, though she remains disguised. She recounts the story of Dido's rise to power in Carthage, following the murder of her wealthy husband, Sychaeus, by her brother Pygmalion in their home city, Tyre. She fled with those opposing Pygmalion, founding Carthage, which has grown into a strong city. Venus advises Aeneas to approach Dido, ensuring him a warm welcome. Cloaked in a cloud conjured by Venus that renders them invisible, Aeneas and his companion Achates approach Carthage. On the city's fringes, they marvel at a mural depicting the Trojan War at a shrine to Juno. Their astonishment increases when they find their comrades, who were lost in the storm, at Dido's court seeking help to rebuild their fleet. Dido agrees promptly, expressing her wish to meet their leader. Upon their warm reception, Aeneas reveals himself, leaving Dido awestruck and thrilled. She extends an invitation to the Trojan leaders for a meal at her palace. Venus, fearing Juno might instigate the Phoenicians against Aeneas, sends down Cupid, another son, disguised as Aeneas's son, Ascanius. Cupid, in this disguise, fills Dido with love for Aeneas. Dido, smitten, requests Aeneas to share his experiences during the war and the subsequent seven years after leaving Troy.
book 2
Honoring Dido's wish, Aeneas reluctantly recounts his heartbreaking tale, reminding us that each retelling revives old wounds. His narrative takes us back a decade into the Trojan War. The Greeks, referred to as Danaans, have crafted a massive hollow wooden horse as a deceptive construct and concealed their elite warriors within it. The remainder of their forces remain hidden some distance from Troy. The sight of this colossal horse on an empty battlefield confuses the Trojans. They discover a young Greek man named Sinon near the horse. He claims the Greeks desired to abandon Troy but were deterred by violent storms. A prophecy demanded a personal sacrifice, with Sinon as the chosen one. However, he claims to have escaped during the ritual, and the Greeks left him behind. When questioned about the horse, Sinon explains it's an appeasement to goddess Minerva, offended by the Greeks after they disrespected her temple. He asserts that if the Trojans house the horse within their city, they'd triumph in their war against southern Greece through Minerva's favor. Continuing, Aeneas tells of two enormous sea serpents devouring Laocoön, a Trojan priest, and his sons as retribution for attacking the horse. The creatures then retreat to Minerva's shrine. The Trojans perceive this as a sign to placate Minerva, leading them to bring the horse into Troy. As night descends and the city slumbers, Sinon releases the Greek soldiers from the horse. The Greek warriors eliminate the Trojan guards, admitting the rest of their army into the city. Aeneas is informed of the Greek infiltration in a dream by Hector, the former Trojan army leader. The sight of Troy aflame prompts Aeneas to arm himself and rush towards the city center with some of his men. Despite their surprise attack killing several Greeks, Aeneas and his companions are heavily outnumbered. They decide to go to King Priam’s palace, where a battle is imminent. There, the Greeks, led by Pyrrhus, breach the palace and brutally murder Priam and his young son Polites. Aeneas continues his narrative: grief-stricken by the carnage, he spots Helen, the instigator of the war, hiding. He contemplates killing her, but Venus appears and clarifies that the gods, not Helen, are at fault for the war. She advises Aeneas to escape Troy as his destiny lies elsewhere. He then goes to his father, Anchises's home, but Anchises initially refuses to leave. However, after witnessing several omens, he agrees to abandon the city. Aeneas carries his father while escaping with his wife Creusa, his son Ascanius, and a host of followers. In the chaos, Creusa gets separated. After exiting the city, Aeneas goes back to find her but encounters her spirit instead. She assures him not to mourn as a new home and wife await him in Hesperia. Slightly consoled, Aeneas departs from the burning Troy, leading the remaining survivors to the mountains.
book 3
Aeneas carries on with his tale, describing the events following Troy's defeat. He guides the survivors to Antander, where they construct a new fleet. From there, they journey to Thrace where Aeneas discovers the spirit of Polydorus by pulling at the dark blood-soaked roots of a tree. The Thracian king, who Priam had entrusted with Polydorus's safety, had actually murdered him after Troy's demise. A funeral is held for Polydorus, after which the Trojans, shaken by the Thracian betrayal, set sail for the sacred island of Delos. Here, Apollo directs Aeneas to his ancestral land. Anchises, Aeneas's father, believes this land to be Crete, the former kingdom of their ancestor, Teucrus. Despite establishing a new city on Crete, their efforts are thwarted by a devastating plague. The Trojan gods clarify in a dream that Italy, not Crete, is Aeneas's ancestral land. They also reaffirm the prophecy that foretells the future dominance of Rome. The Trojans resume their journey, only to be hindered by a severe storm. They land on the Harpy-ridden Strophades islands, where a feast leads to a Harpy assault. A Harpy predicts that they will not establish their city until extreme starvation forces them to eat their tables. Disturbed, the Trojans venture on to Leucata where they worship at Apollo's shrine. On reaching Buthrotum, Aeneas is surprised to find Helenus, Priam's son, ruling a Greek city, having seized control after their captor, Pyrrhus, was killed. Aeneas meets Andromachë, Helenus's wife, who recounts their captivity. Next, Helenus provides guidance for Aeneas's journey, while Andromachë advises that the voyage to Italy's western coast needs to skirt the south of Sicily. Direct passage is blocked by the whirlpool Charybdis and six-headed monster Scylla. Aeneas follows this advice, sailing to Sicily with Mount Etna erupting in the background. They encounter a stranger, a Greek soldier who escaped from a Cyclops, and just manage to avoid the blinded monster. They continue around Sicily, noting significant landmarks, before reaching Drepanum where Aeneas faces another loss, the death of his father. Concluding his tale, Aeneas informs Dido that it was divine intervention that brought him to her.
book 4
Dido's love for Aeneas, kindled by Cupid, intensifies as she hears about his woes. Despite her vow never to remarry after her husband Sychaeus' death, her sister Anna convinces her that marriage to Aeneas would strengthen Carthage, given his Trojan warrior followers. Dido, enamored, neglects her city-building duties. Juno, seeing an opportunity to prevent Aeneas from reaching Italy uses Dido's love for him. Disguised as a peace gesture, she proposes to Venus a plan to unite Dido and Aeneas. Although aware of Juno's intentions, Venus allows the plan to proceed. During a hunting expedition, Juno conjures a storm causing Aeneas and Dido to seek shelter in a cave, where they become lovers. Back in Carthage, they openly live as a couple, and despite the lack of a formal ceremony, Dido considers them wed. Rumors circulate about their indulgence in passion, leading to neglect of their royal duties. Jupiter, aware of their affair, sends Mercury to Carthage to remind Aeneas of his destiny in Italy. Aeneas is torn between obedience and breaking the news to Dido. He attempts to secretly prepare his fleet for departure, but Dido intercepts him, accusing him of betrayal. Despite his sympathy for her, Aeneas insists he must heed the gods' will, stating, “I sail for Italy not of my own free will” (IV.499). Dido's last appeal through Anna to dissuade Aeneas fails. Dido is torn between love and fury. Feigning calmness, she instructs Anna to build a bonfire in the courtyard to burn Aeneas' belongings and their shared bed, under the guise of forgetting him. Unbeknownst to Anna, Dido plans to use the fire as her funeral pyre. Dido's grief keeps her awake while Aeneas, visited by Mercury in his dream, is reminded of his delayed departure and immediately sets sail with his men. Seeing the departing fleet, Dido falls into despair and decides to end her life. In the courtyard, she mounts the pyre and takes her own life using Aeneas' abandoned sword. Her curse on Aeneas is her last utterance before she dies. Juno takes pity on Dido, ending her suffering and her life as Anna and the servants arrive.
book 5
When a storm blocks the Trojans' journey to Italy, Aeneas directs his ships to Sicily, ruled by his ally, Acestes. Upon arrival, Aeneas realizes it's the anniversary of his father's death, prompting him to announce a nine-day celebration with contests like rowing, running, javelin and boxing. On the event's final day, the rowing race begins with four captains and their teams. Gyas initially dominates but falls behind due to a miscalculation. Sergestus takes the lead but crashes, leaving Cloanthus and Mnestheus racing neck and neck. Cloanthus wins after praying to Neptune. Despite the mishaps, all competitors receive prizes. The footrace follows with Nisus in the lead until he trips near the end, allowing Euryalus to win. Aeneas, ever generous, awards everyone. Dares, a strong Trojan, then challenges anyone to a boxing match. Entellus, an ageing boxer, steps up and they exchange punishing blows. Despite his age, Entellus nearly pummels Dares, leading Aeneas to halt the match. To prove his might, Entellus kills the prize bull with one punch. The archery contest comes next, with Eurytion winning by downing a dove mid-flight. Acestes creates a spectacle by firing an arrow that mysteriously ignites in midair. The young Trojans and Sicilians then perform a mock cavalry battle, impressing the onlookers. However, Juno's wrath against the Trojans hasn't faded. She sends Iris to incite the Trojan women to burn the fleet, hoping to force the men to settle in Sicily. Succumbing to Iris's instigation, the women set the ships ablaze. Although the men attempt to douse the flames, it takes a divine rainstorm, triggered by Aeneas' prayer, to extinguish the fire. The incident unsettles Aeneas, leading him to contemplate settling in Sicily. His seer friend, Nautes, advises him to leave the weak and weary with Acestes and continue with the able-bodied. His father's ghost also appears, endorsing Nautes' advice and hinting at future battles in Latium and a trip to the underworld. Aeneas shares his father's cryptic message with Acestes, who accepts to host those staying behind. Concerned about Juno's schemes, Venus asks Neptune to ensure Aeneas's safe passage to Italy. Neptune grants her request but demands a life in return. During the voyage, Palinurus, the fleet's lead captain, falls asleep and plummets into the sea.
book 6
Finally, the Trojans reach Italy, dropping anchor near present-day Naples. Aeneas heads to the Temple of Apollo, guided by his father's advice, and meets a priestess, the Sibyl. She tells him to state his request, so Aeneas asks Apollo to let the Trojans settle in Latium. The Sibyl warns him of upcoming trials, including a war similar to the Trojan War, a formidable enemy, and continued meddling from Juno. Aeneas asks the priestess for help to visit his deceased father's spirit in the underworld, Dis. She tells him he needs a sign, a golden branch from a nearby forest, which he can pick only if destined to go to Dis. With the help of two doves, Aeneas finds the tree and retrieves the golden branch. He returns to the Sibyl, who guides him to the entrance of Dis. Inside is the river Acheron, where Charon, the ferryman, transports spirits of the dead. Aeneas notices some souls not allowed to cross and learns from Sibyl that these are improperly buried souls. Spotting Palinurus among them, he learns from Charon that living bodies cannot cross the river. However, showing the golden branch convinces Charon to ferry them. Across the river, Aeneas is confronted with the cries of suffering souls. He witnesses the recently deceased awaiting judgment from Minos. He encounters Dido in the Fields of Mourning, dedicated to those who died from love. Dido ignores him, making him feel regret and pity. Aeneas then enters the area for war heroes, where he encounters Trojan War casualties. The Greeks run away seeing him. Aeneas and the Sibyl move on, passing a massive fortress where the wicked are punished. They finally reach the Blessed Groves, where the virtuous exist in peace. Aeneas meets his father, Anchises, who answers some of his questions about the afterlife and foretells the future of the Trojans in Italy. He predicts the founding of Rome by Romulus, a Caesar from Ascanius's lineage, and Rome's Golden Age. Understanding his journey's real significance, Aeneas leaves Dis with Anchises and returns to his crew. They set sail again along the coast.
book 7
The Trojans arrive near the kingdom of Latium, at the Tiber River's mouth. Latium's king, Latinus, has a daughter, Lavinia, who many suitors court, including the mighty warrior, Turnus. The king is troubled by a prophecy foretelling the kingdom's downfall by a foreign army. Seeking guidance from the Oracle of Faunus, he's advised that Lavinia should wed a foreigner, not a Latin. Elsewhere, Aeneas and his team dine on the beach, using hard loaves of bread as tables for their fruits. When their fruit is finished, they eat the bread, humorously fulfilling a Harpies' curse by "eating their tables." Recognizing this land as their prophesied home, Aeneas sends representatives to Latinus. The king, mindful of the oracle's advice, proposes that Aeneas marry Lavinia and bequeaths land for their future city. Latinus accepts his fate of a Trojan future king, considering it safer than opposing destiny. Juno, however, harbors resentment towards the Trojans. She plans to delay their city's foundation, sending the Fury Allecto to provoke hostility against the Trojans in Latium. Allecto first targets Queen Amata, Latinus's wife, making her disapprove of Aeneas's marriage to Lavinia. She then incites Turnus's fury at the prospect of losing Lavinia and submitting to a Trojan king. Turnus rallies his army, intending to expel the Trojans from Italy. The first to fight are the shepherds, stirred up by Ascanius's hunting down of a beloved stag owned by Latinus's herdsman. After the animal dies, the shepherds, supported by the Trojans, engage in a brief fight. Both parties retreat, with the shepherds pleading to Latinus for a full-scale attack on the Trojans. Despite his reluctance for war, Latinus yields when his court, including his wife, insist on war. He retreats, feeling helpless against the gods' plans, as Turnus assembles a formidable army for the impending war.
book 8
Turnus is assembling his army while Aeneas prepares his Trojan soldiers and seeks alliances in nearby Latium cities. His unease about the impending battle is eased when the river god Tiberinus advises him to join forces with the Arcadians, who are also battling the Latins. Guided by this advice, Aeneas travels up the Tiber river to meet with the Arcadian king, Evander. Evander is supportive and invites Aeneas to a feast. Once the feast concludes, they perform sacred ceremonies in honor of Hercules, the Arcadians' protector who killed the beast Cacus in that region. Evander shares the history of Saturn who descended to Italy and established a nation from the primitive locals naming it Latium. The Arcadians continue to lead a simple life, and Evander, despite being a king, lives humbly but offers everything he has to Aeneas. Venus, anxious about Aeneas's upcoming war, convinces Vulcan, her spouse and the god of fire and metalwork, to create new weapons and armor for Aeneas. Vulcan orders his Cyclopes workers in the Etna volcano to start crafting the equipment. The following day, Evander contributes the soldiers he can spare to Aeneas's force and asks nearby kingdoms for help. This action results in several thousand soldiers joining the Trojans, but the increased numbers necessitate them to walk instead of rowing, causing a delay. Evander also sends his son, Pallas, with Aeneas, requesting him to train Pallas in the ways of war and ensure his safe return. The reinforced army begins their march. That night at the camp, Venus presents Aeneas with the armor that Vulcan has made, including a helmet, corselet, sword, spear, and shield. These items are beautifully made and stronger than any human-made metal. The shield, in particular, has a detailed depiction of the future Roman triumphs awaiting Italy, including scenes of Romulus being nursed by a she-wolf, the defeat of the Gauls, and Caesar Augustus defeating Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium among others.
book 9
Juno seizes the moment to dispatch her messenger, Iris, with news for Turnus that Aeneas is absent from his camp. Vulnerable without their chief, the Trojans become a target for Turnus who swiftly moves his troops towards the Trojan camp. The Trojans retreat into their fort, reluctant to combat without Aeneas. Finding no weak spots, Turnus circumvents the camp to burn the undefended ships at the shore. The ships’ obliteration seems certain, but a previous blessing stops them from burning. Cybele, a goddess, had requested her son Jupiter to protect the ships as they were constructed from her sacred woods. As Turnus and his men watch the burning ships, they transform into sea nymphs, leaving the Latins puzzled. Regardless, Turnus is resolved to wipe out the Trojans. Night descends and the Latins set up camp near the Trojan fort. Aware of the need to alert Aeneas about the Latin activity, Nisus and Euryalus, two Trojan friends, volunteer to venture out at night. Applauded for their bravery, they leave the fort and find the sleeping Latin army, killing several commanders. As dawn nears, they head for the woods, but Euryalus takes a helmet from a Latin captain, which catches the attention of enemy horsemen. Nisus manages to flee but Euryalus is captured. Nisus attempts a rescue, but both are killed and their heads are displayed on stakes in front of the Trojan fort. The Latins launch an attack, crossing the trenches around the fort and trying to find a weak point in the walls while deflecting the Trojans' spears. Turnus sets a tower outside the main gate on fire, collapsing it and causing many Trojan casualties. Panic ensues inside the fort but Ascanius, by killing a Latin captain, stirs hope and the Trojans counterattack, causing significant losses to the Latins. Yet, the tide turns when Turnus suppresses their surge, forcing them to retreat. Trojan Pandarus quickly shuts the gates, inadvertently letting Turnus in who starts killing Trojans. Eventually outnumbered, Turnus narrowly escapes by jumping into the river and floating to his comrades.
book 10
On Olympus, Jupiter, noticing the bloodshed in Italy, calls a meeting of all gods. Venus accuses Juno of causing Aeneas's and the Trojans' suffering. Juno retorts she didn't compel Aeneas to go to Italy. Tired, Jupiter proclaims he will no longer intervene, allowing man's actions to decide their fate. As the Latins besiege the Trojan stronghold, Aeneas heads back to battle. Having received a fleet of ships with warriors from Tuscany's king, Tarchon, his army doesn't need to march anymore. Guided by sea nymphs, they reach the beach near the battlefield at dawn. Spotting them, Turnus rallies his troops for a beach showdown. The Trojans land and the battle begins. Aeneas opens the fight, slaying some of Turnus's men before both sides plunge into combat. Blood flows as Pallas leads the Arcadians, tipping the balance for the Trojans. Despite his youth, Pallas fights valiantly, catching Turnus's eye. They duel alone. Pallas injures Turnus, but Turnus kills Pallas and arrogantly snatches his belt as a trophy. Learning of Pallas's demise, Aeneas rages, cutting through the Latin ranks to find Turnus. He kills pleading Latins without mercy, creating havoc among Turnus's troops. Seeing their defeat, Juno requests Jupiter to spare Turnus's life. He agrees. Juno creates a phantom Aeneas, luring Turnus onto a ship. She unlatches the ship, setting it adrift down the coast. In Turnus's absence, Mezentius, a Latin warrior, fights on. He kills many Trojans until Aeneas slays his son, Lausus, breaking his spirit. Despite Mezentius's efforts, Aeneas's shield stands against his attack. Finally, Aeneas kills Mezentius, sealing the Latin army's defeat.
book 11
Aeneas, in tears, organizes a group of 1,000 men to escort the deceased Pallas to King Evander and partake in the mourning rituals. Despite his grief over his son's death, Evander forgives Aeneas since Pallas died honorably and hopes for the end of Turnus. At the site of the battle, the Latins' messengers come bearing a request for a 12-day truce to bury the dead. Aeneas consents, impressing the messengers with his respect for the dead. They ponder if a duel between Turnus and Aeneas for Lavinia's hand would prevent more bloodshed. King Latinus holds a council where they learn that the great Greek warrior Diomedes declined their call for help. Latinus, believing they can't win, suggests giving some territory to the Trojans for peace. Drancës criticizes the war, blaming Turnus's vanity and claiming the Latins have lost their spirit. The council starts leaning against Turnus, who responds furiously. He taunts Drancës and Latinus, but agrees to face Aeneas alone if the council desires. A messenger interrupts with news of the Trojans approaching. The Latins hurriedly prepare their defenses, aided by the Volscians' leader, Camilla. Turnus, learning that Aeneas has split his forces, plans an ambush on a mountain path while leaving the city's defense to Camilla. As the Trojans approach, battle breaks out. Camilla's courage outshines everyone, taking down multiple soldiers of Aeneas before being killed by Tuscan, Arruns. Goddess Diana avenges her by having her aide Opis kill Arruns, ending his victory prematurely. With Camilla's death, the Latin forces retreat in disarray, suffering many casualties. Acca, Camilla's friend, informs Turnus about the leaderless Latin forces. Consequently, Turnus rushes back to the city, passing by Aeneas who was heading for the ambush site. Both Aeneas and Turnus return to their camps as night descends.
book 12
Turnus chooses to battle Aeneas one-on-one for the throne and for Lavinia. Despite King Latinus and Queen Amata's objections, he puts his honor before his life. Latinus, with the agreement of Aeneas, drafts a treaty. On the following day, the armies assemble to witness the duel outside the city. Turnus's fate worries Juno as she believes Aeneas to be superior. She warns Turnus's sister, Juturna, to safeguard him. Latinus and Aeneas step onto the battlefield, promising to honour the agreement. Juturna, disguised as an officer named Camers, encourages the Latins to attack the unsuspecting Trojans. This triggers a full-blown battle. Aeneas attempts to stop his troops but is injured and forced to withdraw. Turnus, seeing Aeneas retreat, joins the fight, causing significant damage to the Trojans. Aeneas, injured and unable to remove the arrow in his leg, is aided by his mother, Venus, who provides a balm for healing. Upon recovery, Aeneas returns to the battlefield, instilling fear in the Latin soldiers. Both Aeneas and Turnus cause numerous casualties, swinging the battle's momentum. Aeneas notices the unprotected city of Latinus and leads an attack. The sight of the invading Trojans pushes Queen Amata to suicide. Turnus returns to the city upon hearing the cries of his people. He requests Aeneas to end the siege and fight him, as initially planned. The two encounter each other in the city’s central square and the duel commences. They begin by hurling spears, then exchange sword blows. Turnus's sword breaks in the fight, forcing him to retreat. Juno, witnessing the duel, is reminded by Jupiter of the predetermined outcome. She finally agrees to end her hatred towards Aeneas, provided the victorious Trojans adopt the Latin name and language. Jupiter sends a Fury to terrify Turnus, weakening him. Seizing the opportunity, Aeneas mortally wounds Turnus. Turnus pleads for mercy. Aeneas is about to spare his life until he notices Pallas's belt on Turnus. This sparks Aeneas's anger, and he kills Turnus in the name of Pallas.
