Book VII
Aeneas lands in Latium and seeks peace. King Latinus promises his daughter Lavinia, but Juno incites war through Turnus and other Italic princes.
7 argumentative units
- 01Invocation to the Muse
Virgil invokes Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry, to aid him in recounting the second half of his narrative with appropriate grandeur and solemnity.
- 02Aeneas arrives safely in Latium
After long trials at sea, Aeneas finally reaches Latium, the land promised to him, and his fleet finds safe harbor on the coast of Italy.
- 03Character and disposition of King Latinus
King Latinus is described as an aged, peaceful ruler who wishes to maintain tranquility in his kingdom and avoid unnecessary conflict with strangers.
- 04Oracle concerning Lavinia's marriage
An oracle has prophesied that Lavinia, the king's daughter, will not marry a Latin suitor but rather a foreign prince whose arrival will bring glory and change to the kingdom.
- 05Latinus recognizes Aeneas as the destined stranger
King Latinus perceives that Aeneas is the foreign prince prophesied by the oracle and welcomes him as the appropriate match for his daughter Lavinia.
- 06Juno's jealous opposition to Aeneas's success
Juno, angered by the fulfillment of fate favoring Aeneas and the prospect of his Trojan line establishing Rome, determines to obstruct his plans through military opposition.
- 07Turnus emerges as rival suitor and warrior
Turnus, a powerful Italian prince and former suitor of Lavinia, becomes the focal point of resistance against Aeneas, encouraged by Juno's intervention and the ambitions of other Latin princes.