In the 'Aeneid', how did Dido react to Aeneas' departure?

When Jupiter learns of Dido and Aeneas's affair, he dispatches Mercury to Carthage to remind Aeneas that his destiny lies elsewhere and that he must leave for Italy. This message shocks Aeneas—he must obey, but he does not know how to tell Dido of his departure. read more

In book 4 of the Aeneid, Virgil tells us that Dido can no longer bear to live, and orders her sister Anna to build a funeral pyre, supposedly to burn all potential memories of Aeneas, along with their bridal bed, despite its never having been used (according to Aeneas, at least). read more

Start studying The Aeneid Book 4. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. read more

On the other hand, as her sister Anna counsels her, by marrying Aeneas she would increase the might of Carthage, because many Trojan warriors follow Aeneas. For the moment, consumed by love, Dido allows the work of city building to fall by the wayside. read more