Virgil had several aims in constructing his epic, The Aeneid. Having studied and admired the work of Homer, he wanted to create a classic of Odyssean and Iliadic quality that charted the glory of the Romans rather than the Greeks. Through allusions to his inspiration, he hoped to elevate himself in order to be viewed as an author of Homer's calibre. He evidently intends to emphasise the destiny element of Rome's foundation, convincing his reader …showed first 75 words of 1712 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1712 total…us for the story of Troy in Books Two and Three: ' come tell your hosts from the beginning about the treachery of the Greeks, the sufferings of you people and your own wanderings . . .' It can therefore be concluded that Virgil's initial book sets the scene for the rest of the epic perfectly, hinting at the triumph to come, but not revealing the trails and tribulations his hero must face before he gets there.