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5.4 Vergil, Aeneid, Book 4 Lines 659-705

8 min readfebruary 6, 2023

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Jack Marso

Jack Marso

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Jack Marso

Jack Marso

Overview

Once finished his rebuttal, fiercely responded only to storm off before responded as ignored her and continued to prepare for Italy. Meanwhile, as preparations are quickly moving, ’s will to live becomes shattered as has no luck in slowing down the Trojan’s preparations. has all intentions to commit suicide, but can’t sleep as love takes over, questioning whether she should go with or stay in Carthage.

As is quickly sent on his way as speaks to him once more, becomes enraged from the sight once more and asks the gods to take vengeance on and the Trojans. We are now caught up to where recalls her vast accomplishments as she stands atop of the pyre, which is to be her last words. The end of Book IV awaits in the last section.

Before we dive into breaking down the Latin lines into text we can more clearly comprehend, we will answer some questions based on the designated skill categories! The skill categories for these lines are Reading and Comprehension and Argumentation so be aware of that when you answer these questions! --------

Lines 667-674

lamentis gemituque et femineo ululatu
tecta fremunt, resonat magnis plangoribus aether,
non aliter quam si immissis ruat hostibus omnis
Karthago aut antiqua Tyros, flammaeque furentes
culmina perque hominum volvantur perque deorum.
audiit exanimis trepidoque exterrita cursu
unguibus ora soror foedans et pectora pugnis
per medios ruit, ac morientem nomine clamat:

  1. A stylistic device that occurs in line 1 (lamentis… ululatu) is

  2. A stylistic device that occurs in line 2 (tecta… aether) is

  3. A stylistic device that occurs in line 3-4 (non… Tyros) is

  4. Why was the suicide of grieved within Carthage to the extent as if it had fallen?

  5. Why is acting the way she does as she notices lying on the pyre?

Answers (Don't peek!)

  1. : is the forming of a word that produces a sound associated with it. In our case, this line features “sobbing, women’s cries” and “mourning” as the city grieves ’s attempted suicide.

  2. : is the attribution of human qualities to something non-human. In our case, this line features the “sky echoing with immense grief” which is something that the sky doesn’t normally possess.

  3. : is a comparison between two or more things utilizing like or as. In our case, this line describes the citizens mourning the suicide of “as if all of Carthage or ancient Tyre were falling to an invading enemy.”

  4. was the founder and Phoenician Queen of the Carthaginian people.

  5. This was the norm for how women mourned in classical literature


Lines 693-699

Tum Iuno omnipotens longum miserata dolorem
difficilisque obitus, Irim demisit Olympo
quae luctantem animam nexosque resolveret artus.
nam quia nec fato merita nec morte peribat,
sed misera ante diem subitoque accensa furore,
nondum illi flavum Proserpina vertice crinem
abstulerat Stygioque caput damnaverat Orco.

Translate these lines as literally as possible

Translation (don’t peek!) Remember if you have different words than I did, that’s perfectly acceptable! Just make sure they have the same meaning attached to them.

Then mighty , lamenting the lengthy hardship of her demanding death, urged from , to free the grappling soul, and imprisoned body. For since she had not died by fate, or by a deserved death, but sadly, before her time, enraged with immediate anger, Proserpine had not yet acquired a lock of golden hair from her head, or convicted her soul to Stygian Orcus.

Breakdown of Lines 659-705

  • ’s last words before her death are being transpired within these next few lines. “I will die unavenged, but let me die” is what cries. doesn’t believe any vengeance on will take place but just wants the pain and sorrow to fade away. is pleased “to go under the shadows” as “sub umbras” is the same vocabulary uses once (spoiler alert) Turnus is killed by as well.

  • The “cruel Trojan” refers to “he who must not be named” (see what I did there) as wants to sadly learn about his death on his Trojan ship and bear the consequences of the bad omen derived from it. will ultimately see the flames from Carthage in Book V.

  • “had spoken” and in the middle middle of her words, everyone realized that had “fallen on the blade” which was ’s own sword. Her hands were “stained” in blood and the sword “foaming in blood.” ’s death is compared to that of tragedy as in the fall of a city.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-PlaCDLY0My9b.png?alt=media&token=b4c31c67-2799-44b2-a64e-ffa707e7077e

Depiction of Dido seated on the pyre surrounded by attendees as she committed suicide. Image Courtesy of Welcome Collection

  • Fama’s appearance spreading rumors is once again noticed as rumor “riots pass through the troubled city.” Houses filled with sobbing, women’s cries, and mourning as the “sky echoed with immense grief.” The sorrow is compared to if Carthage or ancient Tyre had been sacked and becoming burned over the temples of gods as their Queen has committed suicide, although not pronounced dead quite yet.

  • Meanwhile, hears about ’s suicide and immediately becomes frantic. “hurried through the crowd, destroying her cheek with her nails, and pounding her chest.” This was normal for how women mourned in classical literature. These lines are repeated in Book XII when Juturna can’t save Turnus any longer from the overwhelming presence of (spoiler alert).

  • called out to , who was dying, in an attempt to bring her back to full health. realizes that her attempted suicide was the reason behind building the pyre and was deceived by her own sister. can’t believe the pyre, the fires, and the altar where they performed rituals to “free her from loving ” were meant for her suicide.

  • wonders what she should grieve first in her abandonment and is naturally shook that didn’t tell her about her planned suicide. would have followed the same fate if only summoned her as the “same sword’s stroke should have taken us both in the same hour.” even built the pyre with her own hands, the location where would commit suicide, and that emotionally affects her.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-IiMDJ5kcErbW.png?alt=media&token=607aac52-8cb0-4d27-8877-ce8f9c8ad6a9

Anna rushes throughout the crowd in hope of rescuing Queen Dido, her sister, from death. Image Courtesy of Martitadu.96

  • reflects on performing the sacred rites and that praying to the gods would only mean her being absent and seeing her lying there. Even before Rome sacked Carthage in the aftermath of the , is to be blamed for “terminating yourself and me, your people, your Sidonian fathers, and your city.”

  • concludes by addressing the people watching over the dying as “washing of the wounds” is one of the last rites before a funeral while “catching with my mouth whatever dying breath still remains” is traditionally done to have preservation of the body.

  • had climbed to the top of the pyre while she was speaking to the attendees as attempted to bring back to life. brought ’s hand to her breast and restricted the flowing of blood with her dress, but only ended in failing to open her eyes once again. Air continues to escape the “hissing wound” in ’s breast.

  • strived to lift herself up but dwindled back to the bed after attempting three times to find support on her elbow. registered that she wouldn’t be able to rise once more and searches for the light as her “wandering eyes” finds it and exhales her final time as she devotes herself solely to death.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-7TzrlxrLXp4z.png?alt=media&token=49092ea4-0f8f-4fa7-9c01-b071c1edf43b

Dido commits suicide on the pyre and Iris flies to cut off a lock of her hair. Image Courtesy of Munich Digitization Center

  • The rest of the book is viewed from the perspective of the gods. , who has done nothing to save even though it’s her favorite city, having pitied the “long-suffering of her difficult death.” finally takes action by sending , an agent of , to “separate the struggling spirit from her captive body.”

  • Although was fated to leave Carthage and head for Italy by Apollo, was never fated to die, nor deserved and did so before her own time because of love-filled rage. The death was truly based on her own will, but also doesn’t fill any requirements of dying.

  • Proserpine, the wife of Pluto during the spring, had not either “cut a lock of her golden from her head” or “castigated her soul to Stygian Orcus”, the god of the Underworld and master of the undead. and her wings golden wings are “dragging a thousand various colors across the sun” referring to her as the goddess of the rainbow as she hovers over her head over .

  • ’s body is being ordered as an offering to Pluto as is “removed from the body of yours.” cuts a lock of ’s hair, meaning she can escape her body and retreat to the Underworld. Lastly, the warmth from ’s body receded and her “life fading away into the winds.”

The Ending

Well, that's all you need to know for Unit 5. I hope you enjoyed reading the Aeneid once more just as much as we did.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-qpLBKJdSc4lb.gif?alt=media&token=a2e2cef4-9d5b-471d-a2c1-bd6cb265ea36

In the next unit, we're moving back to Caesar's Gallic War to read Book V. It seems like we just started reviewing AP Latin together, and now we're already nearing the end. Keep pushing forward, and we hope to see you back here real soon!

Key Terms to Review (14)

Aeneas

: Aeneas was a Trojan hero and the protagonist of Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. He is known for his journey from Troy to Italy, where he eventually becomes the founder of Rome.

Anna

: Anna is Dido's sister in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. She serves as a confidante and advisor to Dido, often encouraging her in matters of love.

Dido

: Dido was a legendary queen of Carthage who fell in love with Aeneas but ultimately died by suicide after he left her.

Fato (Fate)

: Fato refers to the concept of destiny or predetermined events that shape a person's life. It is the belief that certain events are inevitable and cannot be changed.

Iris

: Iris is a Greek goddess who personifies the rainbow and serves as a messenger between humans and gods.

Juno

: Juno, also known as Hera in Greek mythology, is a powerful goddess and queen of the gods. In Virgil's Aeneid, she becomes an antagonist who opposes Aeneas' mission and seeks to prevent the founding of Rome.

Mercury

: Mercury is the Roman god of commerce, communication, and travel. He is often depicted with winged sandals and a caduceus.

Olympus

: Olympus refers to both a mythical mountain where Greek gods reside and also represents their divine realm.

Onomatopoeia

: Words that imitate the natural sounds they represent. They add sensory details and make writing more engaging by creating auditory experiences for readers.

Personification

: Giving human characteristics or qualities to non-human objects, animals, or ideas. It adds depth and emotion to writing by making inanimate objects come alive.

Punic War

: The Punic War refers to a series of conflicts between Rome and Carthage that took place from 264 BCE to 146 BCE. These wars were fought for control over the Mediterranean and resulted in the eventual destruction of Carthage.

Simile

: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as". It helps to create vivid imagery and make a comparison more relatable.

Sub Umbras (Under the Shadows)

: Sub Umbras refers to the phrase "under the shadows" and represents a metaphorical state of being in darkness or obscurity. It signifies being hidden or concealed from view.

Vergil

: Vergil, also known as Virgil, was an ancient Roman poet who wrote epic poems such as "The Aeneid." He is considered one of Rome's greatest poets and his works often explore themes related to Roman history, mythology, and heroism.

5.4 Vergil, Aeneid, Book 4 Lines 659-705

8 min readfebruary 6, 2023

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Jack Marso

Jack Marso

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Jack Marso

Jack Marso

Overview

Once finished his rebuttal, fiercely responded only to storm off before responded as ignored her and continued to prepare for Italy. Meanwhile, as preparations are quickly moving, ’s will to live becomes shattered as has no luck in slowing down the Trojan’s preparations. has all intentions to commit suicide, but can’t sleep as love takes over, questioning whether she should go with or stay in Carthage.

As is quickly sent on his way as speaks to him once more, becomes enraged from the sight once more and asks the gods to take vengeance on and the Trojans. We are now caught up to where recalls her vast accomplishments as she stands atop of the pyre, which is to be her last words. The end of Book IV awaits in the last section.

Before we dive into breaking down the Latin lines into text we can more clearly comprehend, we will answer some questions based on the designated skill categories! The skill categories for these lines are Reading and Comprehension and Argumentation so be aware of that when you answer these questions! --------

Lines 667-674

lamentis gemituque et femineo ululatu
tecta fremunt, resonat magnis plangoribus aether,
non aliter quam si immissis ruat hostibus omnis
Karthago aut antiqua Tyros, flammaeque furentes
culmina perque hominum volvantur perque deorum.
audiit exanimis trepidoque exterrita cursu
unguibus ora soror foedans et pectora pugnis
per medios ruit, ac morientem nomine clamat:

  1. A stylistic device that occurs in line 1 (lamentis… ululatu) is

  2. A stylistic device that occurs in line 2 (tecta… aether) is

  3. A stylistic device that occurs in line 3-4 (non… Tyros) is

  4. Why was the suicide of grieved within Carthage to the extent as if it had fallen?

  5. Why is acting the way she does as she notices lying on the pyre?

Answers (Don't peek!)

  1. : is the forming of a word that produces a sound associated with it. In our case, this line features “sobbing, women’s cries” and “mourning” as the city grieves ’s attempted suicide.

  2. : is the attribution of human qualities to something non-human. In our case, this line features the “sky echoing with immense grief” which is something that the sky doesn’t normally possess.

  3. : is a comparison between two or more things utilizing like or as. In our case, this line describes the citizens mourning the suicide of “as if all of Carthage or ancient Tyre were falling to an invading enemy.”

  4. was the founder and Phoenician Queen of the Carthaginian people.

  5. This was the norm for how women mourned in classical literature


Lines 693-699

Tum Iuno omnipotens longum miserata dolorem
difficilisque obitus, Irim demisit Olympo
quae luctantem animam nexosque resolveret artus.
nam quia nec fato merita nec morte peribat,
sed misera ante diem subitoque accensa furore,
nondum illi flavum Proserpina vertice crinem
abstulerat Stygioque caput damnaverat Orco.

Translate these lines as literally as possible

Translation (don’t peek!) Remember if you have different words than I did, that’s perfectly acceptable! Just make sure they have the same meaning attached to them.

Then mighty , lamenting the lengthy hardship of her demanding death, urged from , to free the grappling soul, and imprisoned body. For since she had not died by fate, or by a deserved death, but sadly, before her time, enraged with immediate anger, Proserpine had not yet acquired a lock of golden hair from her head, or convicted her soul to Stygian Orcus.

Breakdown of Lines 659-705

  • ’s last words before her death are being transpired within these next few lines. “I will die unavenged, but let me die” is what cries. doesn’t believe any vengeance on will take place but just wants the pain and sorrow to fade away. is pleased “to go under the shadows” as “sub umbras” is the same vocabulary uses once (spoiler alert) Turnus is killed by as well.

  • The “cruel Trojan” refers to “he who must not be named” (see what I did there) as wants to sadly learn about his death on his Trojan ship and bear the consequences of the bad omen derived from it. will ultimately see the flames from Carthage in Book V.

  • “had spoken” and in the middle middle of her words, everyone realized that had “fallen on the blade” which was ’s own sword. Her hands were “stained” in blood and the sword “foaming in blood.” ’s death is compared to that of tragedy as in the fall of a city.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-PlaCDLY0My9b.png?alt=media&token=b4c31c67-2799-44b2-a64e-ffa707e7077e

Depiction of Dido seated on the pyre surrounded by attendees as she committed suicide. Image Courtesy of Welcome Collection

  • Fama’s appearance spreading rumors is once again noticed as rumor “riots pass through the troubled city.” Houses filled with sobbing, women’s cries, and mourning as the “sky echoed with immense grief.” The sorrow is compared to if Carthage or ancient Tyre had been sacked and becoming burned over the temples of gods as their Queen has committed suicide, although not pronounced dead quite yet.

  • Meanwhile, hears about ’s suicide and immediately becomes frantic. “hurried through the crowd, destroying her cheek with her nails, and pounding her chest.” This was normal for how women mourned in classical literature. These lines are repeated in Book XII when Juturna can’t save Turnus any longer from the overwhelming presence of (spoiler alert).

  • called out to , who was dying, in an attempt to bring her back to full health. realizes that her attempted suicide was the reason behind building the pyre and was deceived by her own sister. can’t believe the pyre, the fires, and the altar where they performed rituals to “free her from loving ” were meant for her suicide.

  • wonders what she should grieve first in her abandonment and is naturally shook that didn’t tell her about her planned suicide. would have followed the same fate if only summoned her as the “same sword’s stroke should have taken us both in the same hour.” even built the pyre with her own hands, the location where would commit suicide, and that emotionally affects her.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-IiMDJ5kcErbW.png?alt=media&token=607aac52-8cb0-4d27-8877-ce8f9c8ad6a9

Anna rushes throughout the crowd in hope of rescuing Queen Dido, her sister, from death. Image Courtesy of Martitadu.96

  • reflects on performing the sacred rites and that praying to the gods would only mean her being absent and seeing her lying there. Even before Rome sacked Carthage in the aftermath of the , is to be blamed for “terminating yourself and me, your people, your Sidonian fathers, and your city.”

  • concludes by addressing the people watching over the dying as “washing of the wounds” is one of the last rites before a funeral while “catching with my mouth whatever dying breath still remains” is traditionally done to have preservation of the body.

  • had climbed to the top of the pyre while she was speaking to the attendees as attempted to bring back to life. brought ’s hand to her breast and restricted the flowing of blood with her dress, but only ended in failing to open her eyes once again. Air continues to escape the “hissing wound” in ’s breast.

  • strived to lift herself up but dwindled back to the bed after attempting three times to find support on her elbow. registered that she wouldn’t be able to rise once more and searches for the light as her “wandering eyes” finds it and exhales her final time as she devotes herself solely to death.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-7TzrlxrLXp4z.png?alt=media&token=49092ea4-0f8f-4fa7-9c01-b071c1edf43b

Dido commits suicide on the pyre and Iris flies to cut off a lock of her hair. Image Courtesy of Munich Digitization Center

  • The rest of the book is viewed from the perspective of the gods. , who has done nothing to save even though it’s her favorite city, having pitied the “long-suffering of her difficult death.” finally takes action by sending , an agent of , to “separate the struggling spirit from her captive body.”

  • Although was fated to leave Carthage and head for Italy by Apollo, was never fated to die, nor deserved and did so before her own time because of love-filled rage. The death was truly based on her own will, but also doesn’t fill any requirements of dying.

  • Proserpine, the wife of Pluto during the spring, had not either “cut a lock of her golden from her head” or “castigated her soul to Stygian Orcus”, the god of the Underworld and master of the undead. and her wings golden wings are “dragging a thousand various colors across the sun” referring to her as the goddess of the rainbow as she hovers over her head over .

  • ’s body is being ordered as an offering to Pluto as is “removed from the body of yours.” cuts a lock of ’s hair, meaning she can escape her body and retreat to the Underworld. Lastly, the warmth from ’s body receded and her “life fading away into the winds.”

The Ending

Well, that's all you need to know for Unit 5. I hope you enjoyed reading the Aeneid once more just as much as we did.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-qpLBKJdSc4lb.gif?alt=media&token=a2e2cef4-9d5b-471d-a2c1-bd6cb265ea36

In the next unit, we're moving back to Caesar's Gallic War to read Book V. It seems like we just started reviewing AP Latin together, and now we're already nearing the end. Keep pushing forward, and we hope to see you back here real soon!

Key Terms to Review (14)

Aeneas

: Aeneas was a Trojan hero and the protagonist of Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. He is known for his journey from Troy to Italy, where he eventually becomes the founder of Rome.

Anna

: Anna is Dido's sister in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. She serves as a confidante and advisor to Dido, often encouraging her in matters of love.

Dido

: Dido was a legendary queen of Carthage who fell in love with Aeneas but ultimately died by suicide after he left her.

Fato (Fate)

: Fato refers to the concept of destiny or predetermined events that shape a person's life. It is the belief that certain events are inevitable and cannot be changed.

Iris

: Iris is a Greek goddess who personifies the rainbow and serves as a messenger between humans and gods.

Juno

: Juno, also known as Hera in Greek mythology, is a powerful goddess and queen of the gods. In Virgil's Aeneid, she becomes an antagonist who opposes Aeneas' mission and seeks to prevent the founding of Rome.

Mercury

: Mercury is the Roman god of commerce, communication, and travel. He is often depicted with winged sandals and a caduceus.

Olympus

: Olympus refers to both a mythical mountain where Greek gods reside and also represents their divine realm.

Onomatopoeia

: Words that imitate the natural sounds they represent. They add sensory details and make writing more engaging by creating auditory experiences for readers.

Personification

: Giving human characteristics or qualities to non-human objects, animals, or ideas. It adds depth and emotion to writing by making inanimate objects come alive.

Punic War

: The Punic War refers to a series of conflicts between Rome and Carthage that took place from 264 BCE to 146 BCE. These wars were fought for control over the Mediterranean and resulted in the eventual destruction of Carthage.

Simile

: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as". It helps to create vivid imagery and make a comparison more relatable.

Sub Umbras (Under the Shadows)

: Sub Umbras refers to the phrase "under the shadows" and represents a metaphorical state of being in darkness or obscurity. It signifies being hidden or concealed from view.

Vergil

: Vergil, also known as Virgil, was an ancient Roman poet who wrote epic poems such as "The Aeneid." He is considered one of Rome's greatest poets and his works often explore themes related to Roman history, mythology, and heroism.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.