Is the Iliad or the Odyssey more important for the Aeneid?
Introduction
- Most scholars argue that the Aeneid is half the Odyssey, half the Iliad, thus
meaning each epic would surely be more important in its respective half
Characterisation of protagonists
The Odyssey
Aeneas is seen as a better hero through the model of Odysseus
Follows the same path as him
- Both dominate their respective epics; in the absence of Achilles for much of
the Iliad, other great men are in the forefront like Hector, Menelaus, Diomedes
etc. – made clear in the different titles, Iliad on the story of Ilium not simply
Achilles
- Book 2 initiates his story from Troy to several places (the other side of Mount
Ida, Delos, Crete, Corfu etc) to a monarch that has welcomed him, just as
Odysseus tell the story of his wanderings to Alcinous in Books 9-12
- Helenus warns Aeneas of different Odyssean monsters (Aen. 3.420-32)
- He hears of the Odyssean Polyphemus episode and encounters the Cyclopes
themselves (Aen. 3.616-38, 3.655-91), but he listens to Helenus and loses
none of his men to Scylla and Charybdis (Aen. 3.684-6) unlike Odysseus (Od.
12.223-59)
They meet one of Odysseus’ men who had been abandoned, Achaemenidës, and
rehome the “worthy supplicant” in Drepanum (Aen. 3.590-707)
- Aeneas’ hospitality directly marks him as a better man and leader than
Odysseus, whose incompetence is materialised in this man who has been left
behind
Odysseus goes headfirst into problems/monsters whilst Aeneas just avoids them –
in this way comparisons could worsen the presentation of Aeneas, as he appears
to simply hide from troubles such as in escaping from Troy instead of staying to
save his city
Important to develop Aeneas’ brand of heroism focused around pietas
The Iliad
Loyalty to their fight
- Aeneas is presented as dutiful and caring for his citizens, the gods, and his
family (shown as he physically carries his father from the war, 2.635)
- Achilles contrastingly refuses to fight on account of an insult to his pride after
Agamemnon steals his concubine, allowing many of his soldiers to die in his
absence (1.420)
- As such while Achilles selfishly betrays his fellow soldiers and country as a
whole due to losing a girl he is not even presented as in love with, Aeneas
dutifully accepts his fate to lose two women he loves (Creusa in Book 2, Dido
in Book 4) thus completely depriving himself of a domestic peace and
happiness
Martial duty to kill the antagonist
- Both have to kill a key enemy at the end of the war (Turnus and Hector
respectively) though these are approached very differently
- Homer shows the brute force and anger of Achilles as he parades the body of
Hector around the city tied to his chariot, ignoring burial rites (22.395)
- Aeneas however falters before his murder of Turnus, only killing him out of
revenge and love for Pallas (12.950)
- Achilles can be seen as a foil for Aeneas, with his powerful negative qualities
such as stubbornness and pride illuminating Aeneas’ positive characters by
contrast
Introduction
- Most scholars argue that the Aeneid is half the Odyssey, half the Iliad, thus
meaning each epic would surely be more important in its respective half
Characterisation of protagonists
The Odyssey
Aeneas is seen as a better hero through the model of Odysseus
Follows the same path as him
- Both dominate their respective epics; in the absence of Achilles for much of
the Iliad, other great men are in the forefront like Hector, Menelaus, Diomedes
etc. – made clear in the different titles, Iliad on the story of Ilium not simply
Achilles
- Book 2 initiates his story from Troy to several places (the other side of Mount
Ida, Delos, Crete, Corfu etc) to a monarch that has welcomed him, just as
Odysseus tell the story of his wanderings to Alcinous in Books 9-12
- Helenus warns Aeneas of different Odyssean monsters (Aen. 3.420-32)
- He hears of the Odyssean Polyphemus episode and encounters the Cyclopes
themselves (Aen. 3.616-38, 3.655-91), but he listens to Helenus and loses
none of his men to Scylla and Charybdis (Aen. 3.684-6) unlike Odysseus (Od.
12.223-59)
They meet one of Odysseus’ men who had been abandoned, Achaemenidës, and
rehome the “worthy supplicant” in Drepanum (Aen. 3.590-707)
- Aeneas’ hospitality directly marks him as a better man and leader than
Odysseus, whose incompetence is materialised in this man who has been left
behind
Odysseus goes headfirst into problems/monsters whilst Aeneas just avoids them –
in this way comparisons could worsen the presentation of Aeneas, as he appears
to simply hide from troubles such as in escaping from Troy instead of staying to
save his city
Important to develop Aeneas’ brand of heroism focused around pietas
The Iliad
Loyalty to their fight
- Aeneas is presented as dutiful and caring for his citizens, the gods, and his
family (shown as he physically carries his father from the war, 2.635)
- Achilles contrastingly refuses to fight on account of an insult to his pride after
Agamemnon steals his concubine, allowing many of his soldiers to die in his
absence (1.420)
- As such while Achilles selfishly betrays his fellow soldiers and country as a
whole due to losing a girl he is not even presented as in love with, Aeneas
dutifully accepts his fate to lose two women he loves (Creusa in Book 2, Dido
in Book 4) thus completely depriving himself of a domestic peace and
happiness
Martial duty to kill the antagonist
- Both have to kill a key enemy at the end of the war (Turnus and Hector
respectively) though these are approached very differently
- Homer shows the brute force and anger of Achilles as he parades the body of
Hector around the city tied to his chariot, ignoring burial rites (22.395)
- Aeneas however falters before his murder of Turnus, only killing him out of
revenge and love for Pallas (12.950)
- Achilles can be seen as a foil for Aeneas, with his powerful negative qualities
such as stubbornness and pride illuminating Aeneas’ positive characters by
contrast
