Eneas, el Palladium y los talismanes de poder (Aen. II)

Abstract

This paper studies the meaning of the Palladium of Troy within the Virgilian poem starting from the references in Book II, 162 ff & 183-184. The Palladium’s theft appears in the narration of the Aeneas-protagonist-self who introduces the voice of Sinon when he misleadingly explains to the Trojans the possibility to regain Athena’s favour, weakened by the absence of the talisman.
Aeneas flights from Troy, according to Virgil, harkening to Hector’s call: The sacra and the penatis (v. 293) will be his fatorum comites, image initialled by Anquises’ and Ascanius’ company who completes the dynastic line and are both integrated in the domestic sense of the family deities.
From these references, the paper considers the following questions:
a) The importance of the Palladium in the Trojan legend: The talismans of power.
b) The Palladium in Rome: From Mars’ Temple to Vesta’s. The Palladium’s voyage in Servius’ commentary.
c) The archaeological testimonies: Aeneas, bearer of the Palladium vs. Aeneas bearer of the Penates.
The Virgilian version means the choice of a tradition according to Augustus’ politics.