Enée

Enée is a Trojan hero of ancient myth who occupies a central role in Roman legendary history as the progenitor of Rome. In Latin tradition he is called Aeneas; the French form Enée is the name used in some later retellings. He is described as the son of Anchises and the goddess Venus, renowned for pietas, the sense of duty toward the gods, family, and homeland.

Following the destruction of Troy, Enée escapes with a group of followers and undertakes a prolonged voyage across the Mediterranean. His journey brings him into contact with various peoples and divine beings, and he endures hazardous omens and storms. In the most famous version, Virgil's Aeneid, he also experiences the love affair with Dido, queen of Carthage, which ends in her death when he resumes his destined course to Italy.

Eventually Enée reaches Italy, defeats local enemies, and founds the city of Lavinium. Through his son Ascanius (Iulus), he becomes the ancestor of the line that will found Alba Longa and, in Roman myth, Rome itself. The figure of Enée is widely admired for pietas and for serving as a bridge between the fallen Troy and the future Roman state.

Enée's legend influenced Roman art and literature and was invoked in later European storytelling as a symbol of duty, endurance, and founding myth. He remains a core figure in studies of classical mythology and in the reception of ancient epic.