Legend and Prophecy in the Aeneid II and III

Abstract

この論文は国立情報学研究所の学術雑誌公開支援事業により電子化されました。Aeneas has been handed down by many different, or sometimes contradictory traditions. He is as much respected by all the Trojans as Hector. Although he is a good warrior, Aphrodite and Poseidon come to his rescue in the actual battle scenes. Poseidon prophesies that Aeneas will succeed to the throne of Priam, for Zeus hates the family of Priam. However, Achilles says that Aeneas himself wishes the throne. The stories about the wanderings of Trojan people are also disputed. The Poseidon's prophecy suggests that Aeneas remained even after the fall of Troy. According to another version, he fled to Mt Ida before the fall of Troy. There are many differences among legends about the site of their settlement. Prominent on the list of sites are Hesperia and Latium. In this case, it is important to notice that Hesperia means no more than western land, and they didn not head straight for Italy from the beginning. They did not have enough ground for going to Italy, so their arrival is nothing but a chance occurrence. The version of Aeneas' betrayal comes from his narrow escape from Troy. It suggests a secret treaty with Greek armies. On the contrary, there is a widespread tale about his 'pietas' on his escape. He chose Penates and his father Anchises when allowed to select his most important things. This is the figure that Virgil adopts as his Roman epic hero. In molding the character of Aeneas, the poet selects among such varied traditions, or sometimes makes original tales. In the process of making the character, Virgil makes full use of the ambiguity of prophecies. There exists a certain pattern in books II and III, namely prophecy - refusal - recognition. Virgil modifies the legends, or creates a new Aeneas in the course of refusal actions. On the night that Troy fell, Hector appeared to Aeneas in a dream, and advised Aeneas to flee from Troy, entrusting the Penates to him. In spite of this advice, Aeneas rushed into the battle, thinking that dying in the battle is a beautiful thing. Depicting this heroic conduct against the prophecy, Virgil wiped out the suspicion of Aeneas' betrayal. Creusa, who had been lost on the way of escape, appeared to Aeneas and prophesies that they should head for Lydius Thybris, the Etrurian river. This prophecy is again neglected. Trojan people began to wander to seek their new country. They consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delos. It says that they must seek the 'mother land'. Anchises judges wrongly this oracle and orders to go to Crete, the homeland of Teucer. In Crete, Penates appear to Aeneas in a dream, and make a prophesy that their destination is the fatherland of Dardanus. It is Etruria by Virgil. Thus the prophecies of Creusa and Penates correspond to each other. In this indirect way, Aeneas comes to recognize the reason of the Creusa's prophecy. Without this recognition Aeneas couldn't get over the crises in Carthago and Sicily. For the most perilous point common to these crises is that Aeneas could settle in both countries. If he had not recognized the reason why they should go to Italy, he might have yielded to these temptations. Their journey to Italy turns into the homecoming of Dardanus. This is the most outstanding modification of Aeneas' legend by Virgil. The Roman people must be pleased with the story, confirming their belief that they are the authentic Trojan descendants