Dido Spellbound: Love Magic in Vergil, Aeneid 1

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Abstract

This article aims to cast light on the magical colour in the description of Cupid causing Dido to fall in love with Aeneas in Aeneid 1. It is proposed that Cupid’s actions are represented in a way that recalls a ritual for erotic magic, mirroring the dynamics of Eros seducing Medea in Argonautica 3. Dido’s subsequent frenzy in Aeneid 4 may thus be seen as the consequence of this “love-charm”.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)292-299
Number of pages8
JournalRheinisches Museum für Philologie
Volume165
Issue number3/4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2023

Keywords

  • Latin literature
  • Virgil
  • Aeneid
  • Apollonius of Rhodes
  • Argonautica
  • magic

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