The Aeneid of Virgil picks up where The Iliad of Homer leaves off. After the epic Trojan war left the city of Troy in total ruin, it is up to Aeneas, a Trojan prince, to help lead the remaining Trojans out of Troy, and to set sail upon a journey to fulfill his destiny. Aeneas' destiny is to found Rome after overcoming many divine obstacles.
             Like the Greeks, the Trojans honored their leaders of heroic stature. But what is it that sets certain men apart from the rest? What are the elements that make up a hero? Fortunately for the people in the society of the Aeneid, Aeneas displayed all the qualities that they valued and in turn, qualified him as a genuine hero. As the poem progresses, we learn that while Aeneas can be compared to those who came before him, he has his own unique attributes that set him apart from the likes of Odysseus, and other heroes of the past. Like the other heroes before him, Aeneas proves himself to be a good hero by exhibiting admirable qualities like courage and leadership, however Virgil succeeds in giving him a quality that is rare among other heroes: humility.
             Humility was viewed in a positive light in the society of the Aeneid, because it was seen as a virtue. Many Greek heroes displayed pride, which is the opposite of humility, and at one point or another, they were punished for it. Throughout the Aeneid, Virgil presents Aeneas as 'god-fearing' and 'good-hearted'. These descriptions reveal the humble nature of Aeneas. To the Romans, these words implied a devotion for the gods, a
             sense of duty, patriotism, and responsibility. There is a point in the poem that best captures this quality in Aeneas. It is when his ships are caught in the storm raised by Aeolus for Juno, whereupon Aeneas calls upon the gods for help (Bk. I, l. 131-143). By seeking help from higher powers, Aeneas shows that he doesn't consider himself as a higher power. His submission to the will of the ...