Italians

• Fate says that Aeneas has to marry a native Italian bride and found a new race
• the Sibyl predicted this
• that there will be much bloodshed first
• the Italians, themselves, are already on the brink of war when he arrives
• those who want to prevent Mezentius from imposing his tyrannical rule are pleased to have a strong ally in the Trojans
• Latinus, the Laurentine king, has reigned peacefully for many years
• he is the son of the god, Faunus, and grandson of Saturn
• he, like Aeneas, has sen his child's hair catch fire in a divine communication, and has received a prophecy about marriage with a stranger
• when Aeneas arrives, Latinus offers xenia and is ready to give him Lavinia as his bride
• there is a building with 100 columns on the highest point of the city
• in the courtyard, the image of two-faced Janus; Latinus' grandfather wearing a toga
• Pallanteum, the city of Evander, is on the site of the future Rome
• Aeneas is shown sites which will, in the future, be familiar landmarks
• the people share the traditional Roman values which Augustus is trying to promote
• book 7 - catalogue of all the tribes which are fighting against Aeneas
• the people are described variously as showering acorns of blue lead from slings, using boomerang-type weapons or half-moon bronze shields, and wearing tawny caps made from the hides of wolves, a boot on just the right foot or cork oak helmets
• some have special skills, such as the priest who could charm snakes
• some have interesting backgrounds, like Virbius, the son of Hippolytus, and Camilla, the warrior maiden and leader of the Volsci
• the names of the places they come from were established towns in Augustan times
• Tibur, Praeneste and Nomentum would be familiar to Virgil's audience
• there would have been some sort of patriotic thrill to hear your home town in a great epic