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Originally Posted by Hamlet53
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I also found the portrayal of Queen Dido as a neurotic who becomes unhinged at being abandoned by Aeneas a bit odd. Her history depicts a competent and tough lady who overcomes the treachery of her brother, including the murder of her first husband Sychaeus (who the Aeneid reveals remains the true love of her life), and founds the successful city of Carthage. It is made clear as well though that Queen Dido had before the arrival of Aeneas put off aggressive suitors among the rulers of local Libyan tribes. Having first succumbed to Aeneas and then been abandoned by him she fears that such advances will be renewed with vigor that can't be resisted so this contributes also to here thoughts of suicide?
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I suppose we have to put it all down to the gods' interference once again, given that Juno wanted to make it happen to stop Aeneas from going to Italy, and Venus was rather smug about the idea - she clearly knew she could get the whole thing off the rails in due course.
They were a pretty tough lot of gods to have around. The things humans saddle themselves with!