Book 6 picks up with Aeneas still mourning the fall of Palinurus. The fleet reaches Cumae, where Aeneas is to meet with the Sibyl. He finds her and she commands him to sacrifice bulls and sheep, then to return to her. Aeneas does so, and the Sibyl then commands him to pray to Apollo. After Aeneas prays to Apollo, the Sibyl gives him instructions on how to enter the underworld.
Aeneas follows the Sibyl’s instructions and he follows her into a cave which leads them to the shores of Styx. When they arrive there, Aeneas sees many souls trying to beg for passage across Styx, but Charon can only ferry those who have had a proper burial. Aeneas sees Palinurus in the crowd and speaks with him. Palinurus had washed up on the shores of Italy where he was killed by bandits. The Sibyl promises that Palinurus will receive a proper burial and sends him away from them.
Aeneas and the Sibyl approach Charon and show him a bough that Aeneas had plucked which would grant them access to the underworld. Charon sees the bough and ferries them across. They encounter Cerberus. The Sibyl feeds Cerberus a drugged cake and Cerberus falls into a deep sleep. They pass Cerberus unharmed.
They make their way through the underworld. Aeneas runs into Dido. He is surprised to see her there, and is very sad. He tries to explain to Dido that he only left because the gods commanded him to, but she seems not to hear him. She walks off and joins her first husband, Sychaeus, who comforts her and leads her away.
As they continue along, the Sibyl points out different heroes as they pass by them. Aeneas stops to talk to Deiphobus, one of Priam’s sons. Deiphobus has been severely mangled, but as they start to talk, the Sibyl tells Aeneas they can’t waste the time they have, so Deiphobus turns away and they continue on their journey.
They continue on, the Sibyl pointing out more heroes that are now in the underworld. Eventually, they arrive at a gate, which opens for them when they affix the bough to it. They enter the green and pleasant fields. Here they see many famous people who were great in their days. Great artists and poets, as well as great leaders. Here, Aeneas is reunited with his father, Anchises.
Anchises is delighted that Aeneas was able to make it there. He shows Aeneas people who are yet to come. Many important figures who played great roles throughout Rome’s history are shown to Aeneas.
While they talk, Anchises leads Aeneas to the exit. There are two gates. One is made of horn and is an easy exit, the other is made of ivory, through which false dreams are sent. Anchises sends Aeneas and the Sibyl through the ivory gate.
Aeneas rejoins his men and book 6 ends with them arriving on the shores of Latium.
Book 6 is full of symbolism and paints vivid pictures of the underworld. There are countless works written as discussions of book 6, and each contributes to trying to understand book 6 as a whole. As one of the more thought provoking installments in the Aeneid, it is one that many scholars have focused on to great lengths, and is therefore one of the more well known works of Roman literature.
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