Editing Aeneid (section)

===Propaganda===
{{main|Political commentary of the Aeneid}}
Written during the reign of [[Augustus]], the ''Aeneid'' presents the hero Aeneas as a strong and powerful leader. The favourable representation of Aeneas parallels
Augustus in that it portrays his reign in a progressive and admirable light, and allows Augustus to be positively associated with the portrayal of Aeneas.<ref>Fitzgerald, Robert, translator and postscript.  "Virgil's The Aeneid". New York: Vintage Books (1990). 412–414.</ref>
Although Virgil's patron [[Gaius Maecenas|Maecenas]] was obviously not Augustus himself, he was still a high figure within Augustus' administration and could have personally
benefitted from representing Aeneas in a positive light.

In the ''Aeneid'', Aeneas is portrayed as the singular hope for the rebirth of the Trojan people. Charged with the preservation of his people by divine authority, Aeneas is symbolic of Augustus' own accomplishments in establishing order after the long period of chaos of the [[Roman civil wars]]. Augustus as the light of savior and the last
hope of the Roman people is a parallel to Aeneas as the savior of the Trojans. This parallel functions as [[propaganda]] in support of Augustus,<ref>Grebe, Sabine.  "Augustus' Divine Authority and Virgil's ''Aeneid''."  ''Vergilius (1959–)'' 50 (2004): 35–62.</ref><ref>Scully, Stephen.  "Refining Fire in ''Aeneid'' 8."  ''Vergilius (1959–)'' 46 (2000): 91–113.</ref> as it depicts the Trojan people,
future Romans themselves, as uniting behind a single leader who will lead them out of ruin:

<blockquote>
New refugees in a great crowd: men and women<br />
Gathered for exile, young-pitiful people<br />
Coming from every quarter, minds made up,<br />
With their belongings, for whatever lands<br />
I'd lead them to by sea.<ref>Fitzgerald 1983, 2.1036–1040.</ref><br />
</blockquote>

Later in Book 6, Aeneas travels to the underworld where he sees his father Anchises, who tells him of his own destiny as well as that of
the Roman people. Anchises describes how Aeneas' descendant [[Romulus]] will found the great city of Rome,
which will eventually be ruled by Caesar Augustus:

<blockquote>
Turn your two eyes<br />
This way and see this people, your own Romans.<br />
Here is Caesar, and all the line of Iulus,<br />
All who shall one day pass under the dome<br />
Of the great sky: this is the man, this one,<br />
Of whom so often you have heard the promise,<br />
Caesar Augustus, son of the deified,<br />
Who shall bring once again an Age of Gold<br />
To Latium, to the land where Saturn reigned<br />
In early times.<ref>Fitzgerald 1983, 6.1058–1067.</ref><br />
</blockquote>

Virgil writes about the fated future of [[Lavinium]], the city that Aeneas will found, which will in turn lead directly to the
golden reign of Augustus. Virgil is using a form of literary propaganda to demonstrate the Augustan
regime's destiny to bring glory and peace to Rome. Rather than use Aeneas indirectly as a positive parallel
to Augustus as in other parts of the poem, Virgil outright praises the emperor in Book 6, referring to Augustus as a harbinger for the glory
of Rome and new levels of prosperity.