Lecture 1B : Forging a Foundation Myth, Part 2

I.  Relationship b/w Past and Present
          A.  The Past as Mental Construct
                    1.  THE PAST DOESN'T EXIST
                              -can't reconstruct ancient past b/c it is gone --> only evidence left
                                        (books, texts, manuscripts, utensils, etc.)
                    2.  Origins are imp.
                    3.  Aeneid is a Foundation Story (Foundation story of Roman Empire)
          B.  How Romans see their past
                    -ppl want past to be great so they'll feel proud  [Manifest Destiny/N.A.  example]
                    -Caesar Augustus is patron of Vergil and wants story to reflect greatness/glory of Rome
II.  Vergil's Myth
          A.  Fil in gap b/w Fall 'o' Tryo and Romulus and Remus
          B.  Rom. and Rem. story
                    -born to royal family of Alba longa
                    -coup and king goes down
                    -1 daughter of king survives and becomes vestal (virgin priestess), Mars rapes her and she
                              bears Rom. and Rem.
                    -suckled by she-wolf
                    -name dispute --> riot --> Rem. killed --> Rome named after Rom.
                              ~birds as omen: Rem. sees 6 vultures, Rom. sees 12 birds
          C.  Aeneas: heroic, dutiful, escapes from Troy, more of a war hero (better story than Rom. & Rem.)
                    1.  As Troy burns Neptune/Poseidon says he will have prosperous descendants
                    2.  founds Alba longa (according to myth)
          D.  Appropriation: Appropriating Troy for Rome
                    1.  Vergil appropriates Torjan past to Rome
                    2.  Trojans = worthy progenitors of Rome
III.  Prophetic Hingsight : Vergil's Past = Aenaes' future
          A.  V. used position & hindsight to make it prophecy for Aeneas
          B.  Prophecy = hints to Aenaes about how his future ppl will be a great empire
          C.  "Arms and the Man"
                    1.  "Arma virumque cano" "I sing of arms and of the man"
                    2.  Rome = military pwr
                    3.  Man = Aeneas
                              Caesar Augustus will see good line and be proud
                              C.A. = adopted son of Julius Caesar / Julius --> Iulus--> Ilium -> Troy
          D.  Augustus' Acheivements
                    1.  kept empire @ peace ==> "Pax Romana" : stable, wealthy empire b/c no war to pay for
                              "found Rome made of brick and left it made of marble"
                    2.  revive religion and piety, rebuilds temples, etc.
                              appoints himself "Pontimus Maximus" : head priest
                    3.  likes big families
                              ~gives tax breaks to dad w/ 3 or > kids
                              ~mothers get Patria Potestas (more rights... i.e. they don't need a man in order to
                                        buy/sell    property
                    4.  more pride in country/nationalism

**Important Passages:
                    Bk I, ln 400 (pg 11)
                    Bk VI, ln 1044 (pg 158)
                              -underworld, heroic souls being reborn, thos will be Aeneas' descendants
                    Bk VIII, ln 874 (pg 212)
                              -Vulcan makes shield w/ figures of Aeneas' descendants