# Voyage of Aeneas explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

Aeneas, carrying his father Anchises and household gods from burning Troy, journeys with his son Ascanius. They are hosted by King Anius at Delos, who recounts the tragic fate of his daughters transformed into doves by Bacchus. Guided by prophecy, the Trojans sail past various lands, including Crete, the Strophades, and Phaeacia, before reaching the dangerous rocks of Scylla and Charybdis, where the sea nymph Galatea shares her sorrow over the Cyclops' love.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Metamorphosis

Anius' daughters are transformed into doves by Bacchus, and the story of Scylla's transformation is foreshadowed.

### Fate and Prophecy

The Trojans are guided by divine prophecy to seek their ancient mother and a kindred shore, and Helenus reveals their fate.

### Divine Power and Human Folly

Gods like Bacchus and Apollo intervene directly, while human actions such as the seizure of Anius' daughters show folly and suffering.

## Character check-ins

### Aeneas

The pious Trojan prince who carries his father and household gods from Troy, leading the voyage.

### Apollo

Referred to as Phoebus and Actian Phoebus; his priest Anius hosts Aeneas, and his oracle guides the Trojans.

### Bacchus

Invoked as the author of the gift that transformed Anius' daughters into doves.

### Galatea

A sea nymph who confides in Scylla about her sorrows from the Cyclops' love.

### Scylla

The sea monster dwelling on the rocky shore, once a virgin who rejected suitors and fled from sea nymphs.

## Key lines

> Troy thus destroy’d, ’twas still denied by fate, The hopes of Troy should perish with the state. His sire, the son of Cytherea bore, And household gods from burning Ilium’s shore.

Even after Troy was destroyed, fate decreed that the hope of Troy would not die with the city. Aeneas, son of Venus, carried his father and the household gods from the burning shores of Ilium.

_Establishes Aeneas' mission to preserve Trojan legacy._

> Transform’d to doves, on milky plumes they flew, Such as on Ida’s mount thy consort’s chariot drew.

They were changed into doves with white feathers, flying like those that pull the chariot of your wife on Mount Ida.

_Describes the metamorphosis of Anius' daughters._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/voyage-of-aeneas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters