Among the fundamental beauties of history is the inability to predict how the future will interpret the past. The story of Aeneas and Achilles in all fairness should be called a paradox. Achilles, perhaps the greatest of all heroes gave name to a weakness, the Achilles tendon. On the other hand, Aeneas, a non-entity in the initial Trojan story is created with founding the greatest state of the world; Rome. Achilles is termed as a demi-god, having been born of Peleus through the sea nymph; Thetis. Aeneas on the other hand, is a mortal prince born of the cousin of the King of Troy (Saraswat, 2016).
The first similarity between the two heroes lies in crafting their heroic activities out of calamity. A headstrong Achilles abandons the Greek army at the point of critical need due to his displeasure with the general Agamemnon. Perchance due to his absence, his best friend Patroclus is mortally wounded in the battle by prince Hector (Saraswat, 2016). Instead of suffering ignominy, Achilles redeems himself by challenging prince Hector, the greatest of Trojan soldiers to a duel. By slaying Hector in the presence of witnesses, Achilles regains his honor and earns glory. Aeneas is not credited with being of any reasonable help to the Trojan’s war effort as depicted in the Iliad of Homer. However, the calamity of the louting of Troy and the demise of the senior prince Paris and Hector makes a man out of the boy that he was (Saraswat, 2016). His heroism comes from saving his father and the scared Trojan populace in the aftermath of defeat. The new found heroism of Aeneas however, depicts the character traits of many of the heroes in the Iliad creating the impression that given a chance, he would have thrived in the Trojan War.
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The second similarity lies in a common emotional handicap in the two heroes to wit murderous rage in battle. Great heroes are magnanimous in victory and are celebrated for giving quota to their enemies. Towards the ends of the duels between Achilles and Hector, there was already a clear victor in Achilles. Indeed, the brave Prince Hector even flees and has to be chased around Troy three times by Achilles (History.com, 2009). In similar fashion, in the duel between Aeneas and King Turnus, the king admits defeat, flees and even begs for his life (Saraswat, 2016). The murderous rage of the two heroes is however, manifested in the pursuing and killing of their two clearly defeated opponents. This transforms the two duels from honorable act of war to premeditated murders. The reason for the murders were also similar, Achilles was revenging Patroclus while Aeneas was revenging Pallas.
Aeneas and Hector share a background having both been princes of Troy. Hector was however, the crowned prince and a celebrated warrior while Aeneas was a secondary prince and a general flop in the Trojan War. However, the two led Troy with a level of success during moments of crisis. Hector leads Troy into battle upon being invaded by the Greeks. The attack of Greek horde is indicated by the Iliad as the biggest military juggernaut of the ancient world (History.com, 2009). As long as Hector was in charge, Troy triumphed. Aeneas showed great composure and exemplary leadership after Troy fell. He leads Trojans out for the ruined city and finds them a refuge from Latinus, king of the Latins. Aeneas and Hector also share similar grief in battle as Hector also lost a close friend; Tecton in the Trojan War.
From a motivational perspective, Aeneas is similar to Paris. They are both princes in love with women betrothed to kings and willing to fight for their stolen love. According to the Iliad, the entire Trojan War was occasioned by Paris stealing Helen from her husband Menelaus who was a king of Mycenaean. Paris desired another man’s wife with catastrophic consequences to both Greece and Troy. Aeneas on the other hand, desires Lavinia, who is betrothed to Turnus, king of the Rutuli. For the sake of this love, Aeneas provokes a war with Turnus. Both Paris and Aeneas cause the death of thousands due to their caprices and vanities. The fact that Aeneas is fighting for love also makes him similar to Menelaus who is fighting to get his wife Helen back (History.com, 2009). His acumen as a general in the war with Rutuli is also similar to that of Agamemnon, the general of the Greek Army at Troy.
It is clear from the foregoing that in Aeneas as presented by Publius Vergilius Maro (also known as Virgil and Vergil) in epic Aeneid portrays a character of the heroes of Troy combined. These similarities distinguish all the heroes in the Iliad, from Hector to Achilles and from Paris to Menelaus. Yet Aeneas is neither celebrated nor does he flourish in the Trojan War, a careful analysis of this depiction leads to the conclusion that Virgil was communicating that there is greatness in all men, they only lack opportunity.
Aeneas, albeit a great man in his own right does not shine in the Iliad. Yet when the opportunity presents itself in the Aeneid, he thrives and creates a great name for himself. While erstwhile he was overshadowed by the King, Hector, and Paris, their demise pushes him to the fore and he thrives. One might even wonder if Troy would have fallen had Aeneas been the general after the fall of Hector. The Aeneid is, therefore, a semblance of the contemporary motivational talks as it creates the impression that every individual can thrive, if only they take advantage of the available opportunities.
References
Saraswat, S. (2016). A comparative study of Aeneas and Achilles. Retrieved from <https://www.academia.edu/9520797/A_comparative_study_of_Aeneas_and_Achilles/>
History.com (2009). Trojan War - ancient history. New York: A+E Networks publisher. Retrieved from <http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/trojan-war/>
