Tyler Um

How does Vergil depict Aeneas's pietas in Aeneid, and reflect Augustan Rome values, in comparison to modern notions of pietas?

Started June 23, 2025

Abstract or project description

This project researches how pietas is depicted in the Aeneid through Aeneas in books two, four, and twelve. The project will also show how these portrayals reflect the values of Augustan Rome. It also compares Roman pietas with modern-day notions of pietas. The Aeneid takes place during a big turning point in Roman history, when Rome was changing from a republic to an empire. The Aeneid wasn’t just written for enjoyment, it was also used to support Augustus’s rule by showing a past that had shown similar values. In this project, I’ll look at some of the choices Aeneas makes—like when he carries his father out from Troy (book two), leaves Dido (book four), and kills Turnus (book twelve). These moments show the struggle between his own personal feelings and what he has to do for the greater good. Aeneas is depicted as someone who always puts his duty to others first. I’ll also look at the Latin itself—like the words Vergil chooses, the way its written, and the different writing techniques—to see how he shows that pietas isn’t just a personal thing, but something connected to being part of an empire. Then, I’ll compare pietas to how we think about moral responsibility today, This will help show why Aeneas’s story still matters, or maybe why it doesn’t fit so well anymore.