Examples Of Piety In The Aeneid

In The Aeneid, Virgil uses the deaths of Euryalus, Nisus, and Turnus to demonstrate the troubles caused by war spoils. In contrast, Aeneas’ decision to sacrifice rather than profit illustrates the positive impact of discipline and piety. In doing so, Virgil warns against greed and taking plunder from enemies, while connecting The Aeneid’s morals to those found throughout the epic tradition. The first instance of war spoils causing problems for soldiers is when Euryalus steals a prize from a Latin captain. After slaughtering many Latins on their way to send news to Aeneas, dawn approaches. Nisus decides they should quit fighting and leave before they are caught. However, before they leave, Euryalus takes keepsakes from the Latins. Virgil describes, “Euryalus seizes them, fits them onto his gallant shoulders / all for nothing.

Not long after doing so, Euryalus must pay the consequences for his actions. While additional Latin troops make their way to the camp, they see Nisus and Euryalus running off. Virgil says, “The helmet—Euryalus forgot—it glints in the dark, it gives him away, it’s caught in a shaft of moonlight” (9.434-435). Shortly after being spotted, Eurylaus is caught by Latins who kill him, and they eventually his companion Nisus. Through the deaths of Nisus and Euryalus, Virgil warns about what happens when one claims even the smallest of war prizes. In the final book of the epic, Turnus nearly loses his duel with Aeneas. Turnus drops to plead with Aeneas for his release. Turnus begs to return home to his father and his people. Aeneas begins to feel convinced to let Turnus go when he suddenly “caught sight of the fateful sword-belt of Pallas, swept over Turnus’ shoulder, gleaming with shining studs, / Aeneas knew by heart” (12.1098-1100). After seeing the belt of Pallas, Aeneas stabs Turnus in the heart with his