Dido

• We learn of Didos escape from her brother, Pygmalion

  • pity her suffering
• Pygmalion had killed her husband, Sychaeus
• Dido was truly devoted to Sychaeus

  • she’d made an oath to remain chase after his death
• Dido’s piety


  she builds a temple to Juno in thanks to her omen

  • head of a stallion which confirms the Phoenicians would be a successful race
• Dido compared with Diana

  • great praise, comparing her to a Goddess
  • First impression is favourable
• Cut the irony is that Diana is true goddess of hunting and Dido the hunter here will become hunted by Cupid’s arrow causing her destruction
• Dido cares for her people and is a good leader

  • encouraging her people to build their city
  • she is creating a civilised city and is fair
• She’s a very capable woman

  • as shown by her ability to escape Pygmalion and yo get her people started in building their city
• Offers kindness and protection to the Trojan embassy which comes to see her

  • she even offers for them to stay with her and join Forced as equals
• Aeneas is very grateful to Dido

  • he praises her
• Dido’s religious piety


  Immediately offers sacrifices on meeting Aeneas and sends food down to his comrades on shore
• Dido is pia (feminine version of pious)
• There are several similarities between Dido and Aeneas:

  • both exiled due to something that’s not their fault
  • both have suffered at the hands of others
  • Both founding/ need to fLund a new city
  • Pietas in every respect (religion, leader, family, cares about state etc.)
  • Both good at encouraging people and highly respected
  • both bear burden of ,is soon laid on them
  • each favoured by a Goddess who intervene directly in their lives
• Overall we get a very favourable impression of Dido

  • makes her death more tragic and feel even more pathos