Character: Juno

Question 1

What examples show Juno consistently siding with the enemies of the Trojans?

Answer 1

Bk.2 Aeneas recounts to the Carthaginians the story of the fall of Troy, In which he mentions his mother, Venus, accosted him and warned that “Juno, cruellest of all” was behind much of the destruction including rousing the Greeks

Bk.9 Juno sends Iris to inform Turnus that Aeneas has left to find allies and that the camp is vulnerable- encourages him to launch a surprise attack (ultimately results in the death of many Trojans including the heroes Bitias and Pandarus and the near end of the entire Trojan- Italian line only faulted because Turnus gets carried away and does not open the gate)

Question 2

What provides us with an insight into the vindictive nature of Juno against the Trojans?

Answer 2

Bk.7 When Juno sees jubilant Trojans being helped by the Latins she is driven to anger- admits she cannot stop fate of Rome

• Is prepared to make Lavinina, an innocent bystander, suffer
• heavily vindicitve/ petty egoism- futile but cares little for the mortal cost- necessity to make them suffer

Question 3

What examples show the vindicative nature of Juno who goes to great lengths to inflict suffering upon the Trojans?

Answer 3

Bk.1 In the proem of the Aeneid, Virgil describes that Juno plays a central role in the suffering of the Trojans “she drive a man famous for his piety to such endless hardship and such suffering”

Bk.1 Juno asks Aeolus to send a devastating storm upon the Trojans which leads to many of them drowning as a result of being swept overboard (Neptune eventually quells the storm)

Bk.7 Allecto, at the orders of Juno, antagonises the Rutulian King Turnus into war with the Trojans (initially refuses) by throwing a burning torch into his chest he is driven to fury against Aeneas and his men and leads the armed expedition against them

Ultimately, Juno is a catalysts for war which leads to immense loss of life and suffering

Bk.11 mass funerals are describes funerary pyres “all along the shore”- scale of death as a result of Juno’s hatred for the Trojans)

Question 4

What are examples of Juno going to lengths to help support Turnus?

Answer 4

Interst in Turnus- Powerful Rutulian (inflict more damage on Trojans) who naturally would be opposed to Aeneas as he wanted to marry Jaturna and was favoured by Amata for her bride

Bk.9 During his seige of the Trojan camp, Juno deflect the spear of Pandarus to save Turnus and provides him with renewed strength

Bk.10 Goes to great lengths to postpone Turnus death and thus maintain the war- attempts to convince Jupiter to let him live (refuses to do but gives her agency to prolong his life)

• Presents an apparition of Aeneas for him to chase after and thus drawing him off the battlefield after the death of Pallas (safe from Aeneas who is now hunting him down with great rage)

Question 5

How does Juno manipulate other gods?

Answer 5

Bk.1 Manipulates Aeolus to send a storm against the the Trojans which causes immense loss (only stopped by intervention of Neptune)

Bk.12 manipulates Juturna into restrating the war by claiming she has the power to change Turnus’ fate “you dare. I sanction- manipulative by pretending to have power over fate and gives her agency to continue the bloodshed and loss (despite Jupiter saying she had to stop)

Question 6

What are some examples of Juno as relentless?

Answer 6

Background to hatred:

Bk.1 Proem- future destruction of Carthage, Judgement of Paris and sexual jelousy for Zeus’ affair- not forgiving and never satisfied

Juno only relents when it is entirely impossible for her to continue intervening against the Trojans

Bk.9 Juno only ceases in her support for Turnus when he is laying siege to the Trojan camp when Iris brings news that Jupiter commands her to stop

Bk.12 Despite telling Lavinia she has to stop, she tells her “you dare. I sanction” and encourages Lavinia to continue aiding Turnus- still causing problems