In contrast to epic heroes like Achilles and Odysseus,
Aeneas' journey has a different sort of aim. In Homer's Iliad,
Achilles' aim was to achieve immortal glory for himself by killing lots of noteworthy
Trojans. In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus' aim was to return to an
already-established home on Ithaca and restore
order.
Aeneas, like Achilles, is a hero who exhibits might
in battle, but his glory does not have the personal aim that Achilles' does. Aeneas
fights for something larger than personal glory, he fights so that he can fulfill the
destiny that has been established for him by the gods, namely of founding an "empire
without end."
Sometimes, Aeneas gets sidetracked as he
attempts to fulfill this mission, as he does in his relationship with Dido (see
Aeneid 4). Eventually, though, the gods bring Aeneas back into line
and Aeneas travels to the underworld and back to discover what he needs to do to
establish a new home for himself and his companions in Italy. Thus, in the underworld
(see Aeneid 6), Aeneas learns from his father Anchises what the
mission of the Romans will be:
remember, Roman, it is for you to rule the
nations with your power,
(that will be your skill) to crown
peace with law,
to spare the conquered, and subdue the
proud.
(A.S. Kline
translation)
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