4.2 Book 1: The Storm & Carthage

The storm

Book 1 opens with Juno sending a storm to wreck Aeneas's fleet. Neptune calms the sea, and the survivors land in North Africa near Carthage, the city of Queen Dido.

Dido's welcome

Dido, building her new city, welcomes the Trojans warmly. Venus (Aeneas's mother) sends Cupid to make Dido fall in love with Aeneas, setting up the tragedy to come.

Framing

Aeneas, gazing at murals of the Trojan War in Dido's temple, weeps: 'sunt lacrimae rerum' ('there are tears for things') — a famous line on the sorrow woven into human experience.

Key terms

Juno's storm

opens Book 1, wrecking Aeneas's fleet

Neptune

calms the sea

Carthage / Dido

the city and queen who receive the Trojans

Venus & Cupid

make Dido fall in love with Aeneas

'sunt lacrimae rerum'

'there are tears for things' (Book 1)

Try an AP-style question

In Book 1, Juno asks ___ to create a storm.

1. Aeolus
2. Mercury
3. Jupiter
4. Neptune