Join us for the new session of our discussion series "A Night With…" , where we dive into timeless myths and their universal messages. Let's continue the conversation that began with Paris' choice and follow Aphrodite's own son, a survivor of the fall of Troy, to one of the most famous love stories in Latin literature. Its consequences were fatal for a queen, and in the Roman telling, for a whole city. What to expect: I will open the meetup with a short introduction to the myth of Aeneas and Dido and share (or suggest) a few possible interpretations and connections: duty vs. desire ( pietas vs. amor ), divine manipulation vs. free will, Rome's founding story as seen from Carthage. After that, the floor is yours! Bring your thoughts, reflections, and any links you see between this myth and other domains, e.g. literature, art, music, philosophy, psychology, history or even your own creative work. If you're an artist and your work resonates with the story of the Trojan prince and the Carthaginian queen, feel free to share it with the group. Before the event: Take 5 minutes to read the quick snippet of the story (provided below 👇🏽) and think of: A book, artwork, piece of music or personal reflection that relates to it. Any modern parallels or insights you'd like to discuss. Was Aeneas dutiful or cowardly? Was Dido's love truly her own choice? This is a space for open dialogue, creativity, and shared exploration. Content note: the story ends with Dido's suicide. We'll handle it with care. Aeneas and Dido in Brief 🌊 Chapter 1. The Storm Aeneas, a Trojan prince and son of Aphrodite (Venus), flees burning Troy with his father, his son and a handful of survivors. A prophecy sends him toward Italy, where his descendants will found Rome. Juno (Hera) still resents the Trojans, partly since the judgment of Paris, and sends a storm that throws his fleet onto the coast of North Africa. 🏛️ Chapter 2. The Queen of Carthage The survivors reach Carthage, a young city ruled by Dido, a refugee from Tyre who fled after her brother murdered her husband. She welcomes them. Fearing for her son, Venus sends Cupid, disguised as Aeneas' boy, to make Dido fall in love with him. During a hunt, a storm drives the two into a cave, and Dido treats it as a marriage. Aeneas stays on as her partner in building the city. ⚓ Chapter 3. The Messenger Jupiter (Zeus) sends Mercury (Hermes) to remind Aeneas that his destiny lies in Italy, not Carthage. Aeneas prepares his fleet in secret, but Dido finds out. She confronts him and begs him to stay. He answers that he never promised marriage and that the gods command him to go. Her pleas and anger don't move him, and he sails. 🔥 Chapter 4. The Pyre and the Curse Dido builds a pyre, supposedly to burn the things he left behind. She takes her own life on it with his sword, after calling down a curse of enmity between her people and his descendants. Many readers saw in it the origin of the Punic Wars and Hannibal. When Aeneas later meets her ghost in the underworld, she turns away from him in silence. 📃📜 Principal ancient sources: Virgil, Aeneid , Books 1, 4 and 6 Ovid, Heroides 7 (Dido's letter to Aeneas) Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus 18 (a version where Dido never meets Aeneas)