Meta Description: Join Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe in Ad Navseam Episode 83 for a deep dive into the first book of Virgil’s Aeneid. Discover the true meaning of Roman Pietas, the enduring grudge of the goddess Juno, and why Aeneas is the ultimate “schlepper” of destiny. Plus, a lesson on the Latin language of epic poetry, the Judgment of Paris, and the perfect Roman bribe.
Introduction: Nighttime in Vomitorium East
Welcome back to the “Vomitorium,” listeners! It is Episode 83 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, and the hosts are feeling the dusk vibe. Broadcasting during a nighttime session from “Vomitorium East”—the very place where the podcast began on a July day—Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle are settling in for a monumental task. Tonight, they begin their first full-length, deep-dive treatment into one of the most important works of Western literature: Vergil’s Aeneid. While both hosts have extensive experience teaching this epic (Dr. Noe has taught it in Latin perhaps seven times, and in myth courses over a dozen times), they are ready to unpack it line by line for the audience. Will this take them to episode 123? Probably, but the journey is well worth it.
Shout-Out: The Fastidious Kiwi Barista
Before sailing to Carthage, we have a shout-out to an international listener who embodies both hard labor and refined taste: Isaac Jones from Hamilton, New Zealand. Isaac is a man of diverse talents. He works hanging safety nets for residential roofing, a gritty job he humbly describes as “menial,” but he is also a highly competitive barista who represented New Zealand at the International Barista Championships, reaching the semifinals. Isaac wrote to say he has listened to every single episode, thoroughly enjoying the often-maligned Odyssey series and the episode on memory (“Cranks for the Memories”). Furthermore, Isaac is a true coffee scientist. He uses a pour-over with a gooseneck kettle, measuring his doses to 0.1 of a gram, and views the hosts’ love for Ratio Coffee as a delightful “slow progression into full-blown coffee snobbery”. To Isaac, for keeping the classics alive while brewing the perfect cup: Macte virtute!
The Opening Quote: Vergil vs. Homer
To frame the discussion, Dr. Noe provides a quote from Brooks Otis’s 1963 classic, Vergil: A Study in Civilized Poetry.
“Essentially, the real plot of the Aeneid is that of the formation and victory of the Augustan hero. Vergil selected Aeneas as his hero because he happened to be the one… of Roman tradition who actually belonged to the Homeric saga itself… Aeneas, of course, is meant to be the prototype as well as the mythical ancestor of Augustus.”
The hosts explain that while Homer’s epics float in a kind of timeless, mythic past, Vergil’s epic is deeply embedded in a specific historical moment: the rise of Augustan Rome. Vergil takes the timeless mythology of the Greeks and anchors it to Roman history. Dr. Noe compares this to modern comic books—stories set in real places like New York City (Spider-Man) resonate more deeply because of their specificity, unlike the generic, universally applied lyrics of the despised Starship song “We Built This City”. By making his myth specific, Vergil crafts a masterpiece of the Latin language that is entirely new, even as he consciously mirrors Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.
Understanding Roman Pietas
As the epic opens, we are introduced to the titular hero, Aeneas. He is famously described as pius Aeneas. But as Dr. Winkle notes, modern readers often misunderstand this word. In the 21st century, “piety” conjures images of “hands pressed together in a halo” or a quiet, sentimental spiritual obedience . Roman pietas is entirely different. It is not about emotion; it is about duty and obligation. Specifically, it is a duty to one’s ancestors, the household gods (penates), and the future generations. The ultimate visual representation of Roman pietas is Aeneas fleeing burning Troy: carrying his elderly father Anchises on his back (supporting the past) and leading his young son Ascanius by the hand (guiding the future). Because of this massive burden of destiny, Aeneas is not a joyful hero. Dr. Noe jokes that Aeneas would make a great intern for the podcast because he is the ultimate “schlepper”—he just carries the heavy sacks of fate, occasionally muttering “I am pious Aeneas” the way the Marvel character Groot endlessly repeats “I am Groot”.
The Org Chart of Fate and Juno’s Grudge
Vergil introduces the divine conflict early. In line 8, he asks the Muse to explain the causes of the divine anger (Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso) . Why is the Queen of the Gods, Juno, so furious at a man known for his duty? The hosts explain that in the Roman universe, there is a strict “org chart”. At the very top are the Parcae (the Fates), spinning the threads of destiny. Below them is Jupiter, and below him the lesser deities. Juno knows the Fates have decreed that Aeneas’s descendants will eventually destroy her favorite city, Carthage. Yet, she fights it anyway. Why? Because, as Dr. Noe explains, “people can only act in character”. Juno is the ultimate grudge-holder, and she will cause as much carnage as possible before the inevitable happens.
Her anger stems from three main sources:
- Carthage: She loves the city and wants it to rule the world.
- Dido: She feels a deep kinship with the Carthaginian queen.
- The Judgment of Paris: This is the real root of her fury. At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, the goddess of discord, Eris, threw a golden apple inscribed “For the fairest”. The decision fell to the Trojan prince, Paris. The three goddesses offered bribes: Minerva offered military power, Juno offered political power, and Venus offered beauty and love (the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen). Paris chose Venus. Juno never forgave this insult to her vanity, and she condemned not just Paris, but his entire Trojan race.
The Roman Bribe and the Epic Storm
Determined to sink Aeneas’s fleet, Juno goes to Aeolus, the minor king of the winds who keeps the gales chained in a vast mountain cave . She asks him to unleash a storm to “stomp and swamp” the Trojans. But she doesn’t just give an order; she offers a bribe. Juno promises Aeolus her most beautiful nymph, Deiopea, in permanent marriage (conubio iungam stabili), guaranteeing they will live together for years and have beautiful children. The hosts point out how brilliantly Vergil adapts his Homeric source material here. This is a distinctly Roman bribe. A Greek hero might be bribed with a captive woman as a war prize, but Juno is offering domestic stability, legal marriage, and legitimate offspring—the very foundations of Roman society.
Aeolus accepts. He strikes the mountain with his spear, and the winds rush out in a military column (agmine facto), tearing up the sea. It is in the midst of this terrifying, cinematic storm that we finally meet Aeneas. He is not striking a heroic pose. His limbs are numb with cold, he is groaning, and he is wishing he had died back at Troy. He laments that he didn’t fall on the plains of Ilium where the river Simois rolls the shields, helmets, and bodies of brave heroes in its current. Dr. Noe remarks on the haunting visual power of this specific line, imagining the massive, armored corpses of warriors trapped under the water, looking up at the sky. Ultimately, the sea god Neptune notices the unauthorized chaos in his domain. He raises his “placid head” (placidum caput) above the waves, severely reprimands the winds, and calms the waters, allowing the battered Trojan fleet to limp toward the shores of North Africa.
Sponsors: Popcorn, Books, and Brews
This exploration of the Latin language and epic poetry is made possible by the following sponsors:
- Pop City Popcorn: A brand new sponsor from the beautifully named Kalamazoo, Michigan! They offer gourmet, non-GMO popcorn popped in coconut oil with real butter and Madagascar vanilla . Flavors range from Parmesan (with real grated cheese, not powder!) to Bacon Cheddar and Dill Pickle.
- The Deal: Visit popcitypopcorn.com and use code ANPOP for 20% off your first order . You’ll need a napkin and a bib.
- Hackett Publishing: Celebrating their 50th anniversary of providing essential classical translations, including the stunning Stanley Lombardo translation of the Aeneid.
- The Deal: Visit hackettpublishing.com and use code AN2022 for 20% off and free shipping.
- Ratio Coffee: For a machine that performs a proper “bloom” cycle and eliminates the toxic scorch pad of lesser brewers. Dr. Winkle loves his Ratio 6, and Dr. Noe swears by his Ratio 8.
- The Deal: Visit ratiocoffee.com and use code ANCO5J for 15% off.
- The Moss Method & Latin Per Diem: Want to read Vergil’s adjectives in their original glory? Join Dr. Noe’s Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata course for $199 at latinperdiem.com/llpsi, or tackle Attic Greek with the Moss Method at mossmethod.com.
The Gustatory Parting Shot
We conclude this epic beginning with a quote from British food writer Nigel Slater, taken from his book Notes from the Larder. It captures a culinary pragmatism that even a stoic Roman could appreciate:
“A casserole of oxtail and prunes. This gives a perfect quantity for two. I would have done the recipe for four, but can’t imagine ever getting four oxtail-loving people around the table at the same time.”
Dr. Winkle admits he is a fan of oxtail. They just need to find two more people to fill the table.
Valete!
Resources for the Classical Learner:Latin Per Diem: Ready to understand the grammar behind Arma virumque cano? Start your journey into the Latin language today at latinperdiem.com/llpsi.
