Book 5 opens with Aeneas sailing away from Carthage. He sees the flames from Dido’s pyre, and is sad that he left her, but is still unaware that she has taken her own life due to the immense grief she felt when he decided to leave.
Once the ships are out on the water, they realize just how bad the weather is at the moment. The Trojans are very worried about what will happen to them due to the weather. They realize there is no way they will make it to Italy while the storm rages, so they change course and head to Sicily, where Eryx, the brother of Aeneas, lives.
They arrive safely on the shores of Sicily and Aeneas performs some funeral rites for his father. Sicily is ruled over by Acestes, a Trojan. He welcomes them warmly and they decide to hold some games.
The majority of book 5 from this point on can be best described as a “filler episode.”
Virgil introduces many characters who participate in different events, gives an account of each event, followed by a detailed description of the awards given to the victors. On their own, they are extremely entertaining stories, however, they don’t exactly contribute to the overarching story of the Aeneid, and will not be thoroughly discussed in this post, perhaps in the future.
The very short version is that first is a race using ships, then a foot race, a boxing match, an archery contest, and finally, an equestrian parade for the younger boys. Each event has both winners and losers, and plenty of drama along the way.
Following the games, the Trojan women are all gathered on the beach, celebrating. Juno observes them and sends Iris down. Iris enters the celebration disguised as one of the Trojan women, and being a messenger of Juno, begins to persuade the women that it would be better for all of them if they stay in Sicily. She is starting to have some success when one of the Trojan women recognizes her as a deity. Iris departs, leaving a rainbow behind. The rainbow has the effect of driving the women into a frenzy and they start destroying anything in their path and lighting the ships on fire.
The men see the flames and come riding in on horses. Ascanius arrives first and confronts
the women, who calm down and are filled with shame at what they have done. The men struggle to put out the flames, but the fire is deep in the wood of the ships and they know they will not be able to put it out on their own. Aeneas pleads for help from Jupiter, so Jupiter sends a heavy rainstorm. The rain extinguishes the fire, and all but four ships are saved.
Aeneas is uncertain about how to proceed and begins to think staying in Sicily might be a good idea. Nautes, an elderly Trojan man, approaches Aeneas and suggests allowing some of the Trojans who are too old or tired to continue to Italy to stay behind in Sicily since they are now four ships short. Aeneas is still worried.
Suddenly, an apparition of his father appears and implores Aeneas to follow the counsel of Nautes. He also tells Aeneas he must pay a visit to the realms of Dis, the underworld. He then vanishes in a wisp of smoke.
Aeneas, knowing what he needs to do, instructs the Trojans to make preparations.
Meanwhile, Venus pleads with Neptune to protect Aeneas on his journey. Neptune agrees to assist Aeneas and promises that Aeneas will have safe travels, saying that Aeneas will only lose one man at sea during the remainder of his voyage as a sacrifice to save the rest.
That man is Palinurus. He is steering the lead ship, wary of the sea since the weather can change quickly. Sleep comes down and talks to Palinurus, coaxing him to fall asleep. Palinurus eventually falls asleep and tumbles overboard. Nobody on any of the ships can hear his calls for help, and the fleet sails on, leaving him in the dark water.
Aeneas realizes nobody is steering the ship and takes over. The rest of the fleet sails safely. Book 5 ends with Aeneas lamenting the loss of Palinurus. Nestled between book 4 and book 6, which are both very heavy, book 5 provides a light-hearted interlude. It is full of low-stakes competition and provides not only Aeneas, but also the reader, a break from the heavy tone experienced throughout the Aeneid.
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