Virgil's Aeneid: The Sacking ofTroy

Creusa

*Quick Note:

This was originally a creative project assigned to me by my lovely Classics teacher. It was an amazing class as I learned of the great epics Homer's Odyssey and the Iliad, and the story of the Aeneid by Virgil. Because this was a class assignment, there are quotes and citations attesting to the specific translation I used, so if you want you can ignore them. :)

P.S. It is the Robert Fagles translation.

Yay! Onto the story.

***

I waited as Aeneas picked up his father Anchises and son and followed directly behind them. We carried what was sacred and made our way to the gates, finally leaving Troy. Every noise, every scream made my head turn, my heart bleed, my hair raise. I reached for my husband's hand in the darkness, but I found a cold one instead. I grasped it and looked into the eyes of a tall and beautiful woman; she was a goddess, I was certain.

"Who are you?" I dared myself to ask. Large brown eyes challenged my pride making me remember I was facing a god. "Charming," she grinned. "You dare speak to a god that way? You do not know of your place." I immediately shook my head and bowed, forcing myself to not look the powerful woman in the eyes. She laughed and told me to stand straight, before introducing herself as no other than the queen herself, Juno.

The deity continued to scrutinize me, making me wonder how no one recognized me standing amidst the chaos. I felt her hand grip my chin and force me to look at her. "You are the wife of Aeneas, correct?" I simply nodded, too afraid to shame myself further. "Do you know why hell has been brought to Troy?" I nodded again, remembering Helen and the foolish Paris.

The queen smiled again, but something caught my eye. She no longer held malice, instead I thought I saw sorrow consume her soul as she placed a hand on my chest. "Once he finds you, Troy will fall and this will all be over." I shook my head in confusion. Why would the greatest city fall, who would find me, Aeneas?

My thoughts were interrupted by a glint of silver striking my attention. A dagger appeared from behind Juno's back and I realized she was no longer holding me but instead preparing to strike. "Do not feel resentment towards me. When your husband finds you, he will stay and mourn your body. He will not leave you."

Uncontrollable sobs left me, my chest aching as I pled with the goddess. "Please. Why are you doing this? What do you want with my husband? Why do you want him to stay here?" She refused to answer me and raised the dagger. My reflection stared back at me: a torn woman who was to never see her husband again. "It has to be done."

I awoke with a cold feeling in my chest. My vision blurred before me and I could see the men walking, but I heard no sounds. I saw a mass of people; men, women, and children, all walking towards what I could assume was our new destination. I aimlessly followed them hoping I could find answers where they led me. Turning my head, I recognized familiar faces and ones I've never seen, but one thing was certain, I was no longer in Troy.

"Payment?"

I hadn't realized I reached the front of the crowd and was now standing in front of a man, a large cloak draped over him, leaning over a boat, wait. "How did I get here? Where am I?" "Whoever you are, you need payment, otherwise you cannot enter." I cleared my throat and looked around. Many nameless people had something glimmering in their hands, a coin. "I'm sorry, I don't think I have a coin."

He not so subtly rolled his eyes and turned his head. "Without payment, you cannot cross. Those are the rules." "And who made those rules?" I demanded, but he paid me no mind. I was forced to move away from the man when the nameless faces began to shove me and give him their "payment." I stood on my toes to see them step on the boat and the crude man began to row them away.