The Shields of Achilles and Aeneas

Paper Summary:

The paper focuses on the shields of the two mythical characters, Achilles and Aeneas, of Homer's "Iliad" and Virgil's "Aeneid" respectively. The paper points out the relevant distinctions between the two epic poems and discusses how the characters' shields represent much more than armor; they symbolize their fate.

From the Paper:

"The Iliad was written in the 8th or 7th century B.C. in ancient Greece, and attributed to Homer who also wrote the Odyssey. These two epic poems are considered by many scholars as the first European pieces of literature. The Aeneid, on the other hand, was written in the 1st century B.C. by the Latin poet Virgil. The Iliad tells the story of the final year of the siege of Troy by the ancient Greeks, with Achilles withdrawing from the battle in revenge, and leaving Agamemnon to lead the Achaeans into fight against the Trojans. In the Aeneid, Virgil combines the theme of warfare from the Iliad and the theme of wandering that can be found in the Odyssey. The main character, Aeneas, is a hero whose personality and actions were meant to glorify Roman values, and to link the founding of Rome with the legends of Troy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Homer. "The Iliad." Electronic text: <www.projectgutenberg.org>
• Virgil. "The Aeneid." Electronic text: <www.projectgutenberg.org>
• Thomas, Richard F. "Philology and textual cleansing." Virgil and the Augustan Reception. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 190-221

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