Underworld Propaganda // Moriah Nelson
As I read through Aeneas’ experience in the Underworld in Book VI, I saw very clearly the works-based mentality for salvation from sins committed in the “physical life”. An extensive amount of focus is placed on the suffering of those whose bodies weren’t buried and those being punished with the allotment for their sin. After a vivid and beautiful description of what I assume to be Roman mythology’s form of heaven, we read,
“This was the company of those who suffered
Wounds in battle for their country; those
Who in their lives were holy men and chaste
Or worthy of Phoebus in prophetic song;
Or those who bettered life, by finding out
New truths and skills; or those who to some folk
By benefactions made themselves remembered.” (Lines 883-889)
What Roman citizen wouldn’t want to live a “right” life and serve their country well after reading this? This portion of the story was probably a favorite of the Roman leaders, for if their citizens lived according to it, they would be citizens who loved their country and wanted to find ways to leave the world better than how they found it.
Because of this perspective, I can better understand what may be one reason why the Roman government was so against Christianity: it is a religion that doesn’t depend on works or what we do for salvation (even though Christians are to live holy lives). This would skew the fear the Roman leaders may have placed in their people that they would be eternally punished if they didn’t live a “right” or honorable life as loyal Roman citizens.
I commented on AnnaKate and Kayla's posts.
I commented on AnnaKate and Kayla's posts.
This is such an interesting thought. I agree with what you say. Maybe the Romans are afraid. They are afraid of this "all knowing, all powerful" Diety. Atleast with Roman gods, there are plenty of them. So, if you make one mad, you have a billion others to please. Also, because there is no rule about earning salvation through works, the leaders cant convince people to "act right" because it doesnt fully matter. Sometimes it is hard as Christians to understand that we cant earn salvation. We gain salvation through faith and we show that faith through good works.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't really viewed this portion as being potential for propaganda until I read your blog post! But you're right. Ideologies like this would be invaluable to places like Rome that depend on the loyalty of their people. The part about the burial really confuses me, though. Do only the righteous get buried? What about those beloved soldiers that die for Rome on the battlefield? Why shouldn't they get to enjoy the afterlife? I'm probably missing some key historical components to this (as usual) but I agree with all that you've said.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad someone else thought of this as a sort of propaganda. It's passages like this that make me understand why Augustus liked the Aeneid so much. He was a big proponent of right living and here Virgil agrees with that. It's always nice when a popular writer creates myths that support your political agenda. That whole book/chapter I thought might have been one of Augustus' favorites. Not only was there this section about living right, but it also showed punishments for ignoring tradition and portrayed Augustus himself in a favorable light. There was definitely some good propaganda in that.
ReplyDeleteYes! This definitely came across my mind as propaganda. It's so interesting to take a step back and realize the implications of this ancient poetry. So far anyone who follows it will be very obedient to to the Roman government. It is subtle enough to motivate the citizens who buy into this to aspire to a successful life. However, this successful life is slowly being conformed to the characters in the Aeneid, and redefining the ideas of virtue to better suit the Romans. Sadly, everything is based on works in the minds of the Romans, but that is not the case . Thankfully, Christianity doesn't depend on the works of man for salvation as you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting idea, I love it! It also would make sense as to why Roman leaders loved this book so much. In a Roman society where so much honor is placed on your duty to your country, it would make perfect sense to have something in this book that would encourage Romans to make the right choices in serving their county. Book VI as a whole really encourages this idea of making the right decisions. By displaying such a vivid underworld and heaven, it would make Romans want to be better people for themselves and their county.
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