Book+VI+of+the+Aeneid


 * Book VI of the //Aeneid:// Aeneas' Travel to the Underworld**

Aeneas goes to the Underworld with the Sibyl Cuman under request by his father who appeared to him in a dream after his death in Sicily Aeneas lands near Naples and follows the Sybil He is carrying a golden bough to offer to Proserphine to ensure his safe return to the earth. Aenes descends into the darkness under the earth guided by the Sibyl. In front of the entrance to the cave are Grief, Cares, Diseases, Age, Dread, Hunger, Want, Death, Toil, Sleep, War, Discord In the couryard is a shadowy giant elm and underneath its leaves are the false dreams Around the doorway are monsters: Centaurus, Scyllas, Briareus, the hydra, the Chimera, Gorgons, Harpies, Geyron The path takes to the Acheron, a river of muddy and rough waters. Another river is the Cocytus, and on the other side of it is the swamp of the Styx. Here Charon ferries the souls to the other side. The souls of those who have not been buried have to wait 100 years before they can cross. Here Aeneas meets Palinurus, his helmsman who had been trown overboard along the Neapolitan coast. After crossing on Cherons' boat, Aeneas and the Sybyl see the three headed dog Cerberus guarding a cave. They now see the babies who have died. Next are those who have been put to death falsely accused. Minos judges these souls and assigns them to their place. Next are those who wasted their lives. The river Styx wraps around nine times. In the Fields of Mourning are those who died because of love. The area is a myrtle woodland with hidden paths underneath. Here Aeneas meets Dido who does not reply to his words, but walks away to join Sychaeus, her first husband. The warriors, many from the Trojan War, are next. Here Aeneas taks with Deiphobus, one of Priam's sons. His story reminds us of Agamemnon since his wife, Helen, betrayed him and caused his death. At this point the road forks: one path leads through Dis' walls to the the Elysian Fields; the other path leads to the Tartarus, where the souls of the sinners are punished. To the left under a cliff is a wide building circled by a triple wall surrounded by a river of flames and boulders. By a massive gate on an iron tower stands to watch Tisiphone, one of the Furies. Rhadamanthus judges the souls of the sinners. Then the gates are opened and Tisiphone throws the souls into the deep Tartarus. At the entrance to the Elysian fields are walls built by the Cyclops. Here Aeneas has to leave the golden bough. They arrive to a bright place of green pastures. The sun and the stars are visible. The souls here play, dance, and sing. The great warriors have their chariots and horses and weapons. A stream flows through a forest of fragrant laurel. Shady groves, riverbanks, green medows lay within hilltops and gentle slopes. Here they meet Anchises. At the end of the valley is a grove with stems and boughs of woodland. The river Lethe runs across. The souls who drink its water will forget their previos life and will be reincarnated into a new life. Anchises explains to Aeneas how the imperfections of the body must be eliminated either As they stand on a grassy mound, Anchises points out to Aeneas the souls of his descendents and the future ruler of Rome. At the exit are two gates: the gate of Sleep, made of Horn, through which the true souls can pass; and the gate of False dreams, made of ivory, through which Aeneas exits to the upper world.

the asphodels ?