Places of the Myth of Aeneas: Stele of Anchises
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Places of the Myth of Aeneas: Stele of Anchises

The site is part of the Places of the Myth of Aeneas included in the Register of the Region of Sicily LIM (Places of heroes and heroic legends)

The Myth in Sicily

According to legend, Aeneas together with a group of Trojan survivors arrives in Sicily, avoiding the areas inhabited by the Greeks, arriving almost as far as the Strait of Messina, but on the advice of the soothsayer Elena, wanted to avoid passing it because the place was made dangerous by the presence of monsters Scilla and Cariddi deciding to circumnavigate the island.

During the circumnavigation they have the opportunity to get close to the lands inhabited by the Cyclops, at the sight of Polyphemus they fled before he managed to catch them (Aeneid Book III vv 955 ss.).

Continuing the circumnavigation of Sicily they passed near the gulf of Augusta (Megara) e Chief Pachino, and they were able to see during navigation, Camarina, Gela, Agrigento and Selinunte, during the stopover at Trapani, the father Anchises, afflicted by ailments and old age died. (Aeneid Book III vv 1030 ff.), Aeneas, thanks to the availability of the local king These, gave solemn burial to his father at the foot of the Mount Erice. A monument dedicated to his father Anchises was erected to commemorate the episode on the coast of Pizzolungo (Stele of Anchises).  

When the journey resumed, a storm drove him to the coast of Carthage where he met the queen Dido with whom he fell in love, so he thought of ending his journey in Africa, but the will of Zeus, ordered him to abandon the queen and continue the journey to what would have been his final destination, the Lazio. Seized by her desperation, Queen Dido, seeing the Trojan ship with Aeneas on board, go away from her, she will take her life (Aeneid Book IV vv 920 ss.).

During the journey to Lazio, I pass through Sicily again, welcomed by Aceste who helps him organize games (Ludi) in honor of his dead father[2].

After the games, Aeneas resumed his journey landing at Cuma, later passed by Gaeta to finish his journey in Lazio.

According to some versions of the legend Aeneas would have founded a temple dedicated to Erice Venus.

Places indicated in the IWB register 

  • Archipelago of the Cyclops (Aci Trezza)
  • Stele of Anchises (Coast of Pizzolungo Erice)
  • Gulf of Trapani
  • Scilla and Cariddi (Strait of Messina)

To view the places of the Myth on an Interactive Map, see the following web page: The places of Aeneas

Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero

Photo: web

Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily

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