I don't think there is a particular link but both are examples of what has by then become a bit of a stock topos of poetry - the extended poetic description of art objects. There are other examples in the Aeneid e.g. the temple in Carthage in Book 1 and the engraving of Daedalus at the beginning of book 6. Other examples: the tapestry in Catullus 64; the carved bowl in Theocritus 1; Moschus' Europa; the cloak in Apollonius' Argonautica. The device is v. characteristic of the epyllion (currently being discussed on Mantovano). Point of interest:- what is the relationship between the scene on the object and surrounding narrative:- I think the extent of this relationship changes with each poet: Catullus 64 uses the contrast to great effect, but there is not really much to Theocritus 1. The other point of interest is the fascination the poets have with delivering narrative as static art and the interesting conflicts that this creates.
The shield of Aeneas can be discussed with reference to both these points of discussion. Particularly interesting on the point of poetry vs static art is the way Propertius reacts to Vergil's description of Antium in Propertius 4.6 - this is pure narrative but I think you can detect echoes of the _visual_ effects that Vergil creates. The shield of Aeneas has, of course, a further resonance i.e. it's relationship with the shield of Achilles in the Iliad. And the shield of Achilles had been the subject matter of lots of academic discussion among the Hellenistic Homeric commentators as to its allegorical / cosmological function. Even though Homer almost certainly did not intend the sort of function that these scholars ascribe, I think the discussion is supposed to be very much in mind when looking at Vergil's shield. (Philip Hardie "Cosmos and Imperium" is v. good on this). Adrian Pay -----Original Message----- From: Leah [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, December 05, 1998 2:14 PM To: INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: VIRGIL: AP Virgil Question I would like to know: If there is any significance between Aeneas' shield, crafted by Vulcan on Venus' orders, and the swordbelt pilfered by Turnus on killing Pallas in book ten. Leah xxxx ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To leave the Mantovano mailing list at any time, do NOT hit reply. Instead, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message "unsubscribe mantovano" in the body (omitting the quotation marks). You can also unsubscribe at http://virgil.org/mantovano/mantovano.htm#unsub ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To leave the Mantovano mailing list at any time, do NOT hit reply. Instead, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message "unsubscribe mantovano" in the body (omitting the quotation marks). You can also unsubscribe at http://virgil.org/mantovano/mantovano.htm#unsub
