Aeneas

Aeneas is a legendary Trojan hero in ancient myth, central to both Greek and Roman storytelling. In Greek tradition he is the son of Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite (Venus) and a respected warrior of the Trojan War, noted for his piety toward the gods and his family.

In Virgil's Aeneid, he leads survivors from Troy to Italy, guided by the gods. His voyage includes a romance with Queen Dido of Carthage and a series of trials that culminate in his arrival in Latium. There he founds the city of Lavinium and, through his son Ascanius, is linked to the future founders of Rome.

Aeneas' tale has had lasting cultural influence, shaping Roman identity and inspiring later literature, art, and philosophy. The figure embodies piety, duty, and endurance in the face of divine opposition and fate, and his story has been reinterpreted by authors and artists across medieval and modern periods.