In Aeneas and the Roman Hero, the author explains and illustrates the ideals of the newly-created Roman empire under Augustus as they are reflected in Virgil’s Aeneid. National hopes were high; Rome had emerged from the bloodshed of internecine civil wars; her renewed civilisation was set to rule the known world. Virgil’s Aeneid explores and symbolises those aspirations in epic narrative through the myth of the Trojan hero Aeneas. The poem remains one of the most significant literary landmarks of our own civilisation; in this book, its story and its poetic magnificence are outlined for the student coming to the poem for the first time.

This well-established series, Inside the Ancient World, presents elected aspects of the ancient world in such a way as to help students gain an understanding of the attitudes of the Greeks and Romans, and to allow them to form their own judgement on the issues raised. Designed to meet the need for material suited to Classical Studies / Classical Civilization courses, it will be found particularly useful by candidates taking examinations. It is also intended as a helpful ancillary to the study of Greek and Latin at these levels. Much of the information is given by way of translated quotations from ancient authors. the books are illustrated throughout and diagrams and maps are linked closely to the text.