Jupiter

• book 1, 2, 4, 10, 12
• embodies the notion of Fate in the Aeneid
• responsible for its execution
• proem tells us that Aeneas is subject to a fate which will determine his destination.
• he pursues his mission because he knows that it is fated
• Turnus and Latinus go against fate, with tragic consequences
• while Jupiter ensures the fulfilment of Fate, he does sometimes gets distracted, allowing attempts which aim to divert or postpone the inevitable
• when Iarbas points out Aeneas' presence in Carthage with Dido, Jupiter cares nothing for the indignation of his son, but acts swiftly to put Fate back on course
• Juno is aware that Jupiter will aways have the last word, but it won't stop her from meddling
• Jupiter tells her, when she wants to save Turnus, 'if what you ask is a stay of the death that is upon him and respite for a young man who must die, and if you accept that this is what I ordain, then rescue Turnus'
• the flexibility of Jupiter in the men's fortune is important
• without it, the characters would be like puppets, and the poem would risk being devoid of any real characterisation or drama
• fate is a useful device for Virgil in his praise of Augustus
• it gives him a context within which he can refer to the future and highlight events, such as the closure of the Gates of War, the doors of the Temple of Janus