Aene'id, the great Roman epic poem, by Vergil. It is divided into twelve books, of which the first six are modeled to some extent upon the Odyssey, the last six upon the Iliad. The gods are represented as taking part in the affairs of men, and as being divided in their councils respecting the fate of mortals. Indeed, it is the hatred of Juno that brings upon Aeneas all his woe, while Venus toils to thwart the plans of the hostile goddess and bring her beloved Trojans to Latium. Summarized briefly, the story is as follows: The hero appears, in the sixth year of his wanderings, sailing from Sicily. Juno succeeds in bringing about a terrible storm, during which Aeneas is shipwrecked upon the coast of Africa. He is kindly received by Dido, queen of Carthage, and to her relates the story of the fall of Troy, the burning of the city, his escape to Mount Ida and his varied wanderings and perils until at last he reached Sicily, where he buried his father, Anchises, whom he had carried on his shoulders from the burning city. By the strategems of Venus, Dido is made to fall in love with Aeneas, to whom she offers her hand and crown. Obeying the command of the gods, the hero leaves Carthage, and Dido, in rage and despair, dies by her own hand. Aeneas sails for Italy, but is driven ashore in Sicily, where he institutes games at his father's tomb. The fleet is set on fire by the Trojan women, but is saved by Jupiter and Aeneas continues his voyage and reaches Italy. Here he visits the Sibyl of Cumae, who conducts him down to the infernal regions, where his father Anchises tells him of the fate in store for him and his descendants, the Romans. After reaching Latium, his destination, Aeneas makes a treaty with Latinus, king of the region about the mouth of the Tiber, and is promised his daughter, Lavinia, in marriage. Juno interferes to break the treaty and brings on a war with the neighboring kings, in which the Trojans are at length victorious. From Aeneas, according to Vergil, was descended the Julian family of Rome, of which Augustus, in whose honor the poem is written, was a member.