The Odyssey vs. The Aeneid

Two books that are similar to each other are the Odyssey, by Homer, and The Aeneid, by Virgil. They both tell the tale of a young man traveling home after the fall of Troy after the end of the Trojan War. But these books are also different in the way of the characters and some of the events that took place.

The Odyssey epic tale of the journey of Odysseus told in 24 books. Odysseus fights in the Trojan war and is forced to wander for ten years. His wife is Penelope who lives in Ithaca. Odysseus is running from Poseidon because he had injured his son Polyphemus, a cyclops. Most of his near death escapes are because his Patron goddess Athena is looking out for him.

Virgil's Aeneid is devoted to the tale of the seven years that Aeneas spent wandering escaping the fall of Troy. Virgil spent the last ten years of his life writing the Aeneid. The Aeneid is a twelve book mythological epic. Some of Virgil's influence came from Odyssey by Homer.

The Aeneid and the Odyssey are very similar books in many ways. For instance, both of the books are the tales of a man wandering after the Trojan War. Both of the books are told in the form of epic poems. They are different because one is told of Odysseus, and the other is told of Aeneas.

So the Odyssey and the Aeneid are different in many ways, but they are also very different. They pretty much have the same plots, same setting, and same form of literature. They are mainly only different by their characters.


Homer, The Odyssey. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14

Virgil, The Aeneid New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14.

Foundational Myths of Rome

There are two main myths that tell of the foundations of Rome. One of the Myths is that it was founded by the twin brothers, Romulus and Remus. The other main foundational myth of Rome is that it was founded by Aeneas and his followers after the fall of Troy.

In the Myth of Romulus and Remus, Romulus is the one said to have discovered Rome. Romulus is the twin brother of Remus. Romulus and Remus are said to be the sons of Mars, god of war, and Rhea Silvia, one of the vestal virgins. Rhea Silvia was said to be the daughter of the king of Alba Longa. The brothers were thrown in the river because they might have been a threat to the thrown. They were rescued by a she-wolf and was nursed by it. The brothers built a city when they grew up. Romulus built a wall to divide his city, and Remus jumped the wall. It is said that Remus was killed by Romulus or one of his friends for trespassing.

The two boys were said to have been discovered by Faustulus, who was a shepherd, who raised the children in his home. There were not enough women for Romulus and Remus, so Romulus stole a woman from an Italian tribe. When Romulus and Remus built Rome, the first citizens of Rome were fugitives and outlaws. Rome's location began at the place where the she-wolf nursed them, Palatine Hill.

Another foundational myth of Rome was the Aeneas was the founder of Ancient Rome. Aeneas was born in Troy, and died in Italy. It is said that Aeneas and the defeated army of Troy sailed across the Mediterranean Sea until they reached the Latin Coast. It is said that they founded Troy their and it was ruled by Amulius for many years.

So those are the two foundational myths of Troy. Though the story of Romulus and Remus is a more detailed account of the founding of Rome, It is more likely that Rome was founded by Aeneas after the Trojan defeat in the Trojan War.