Similarities Between The Aeneid And Turnus

The belt of Pallas serves as a highly important symbol in the Aeneid and for Turnus’ fate. In Book X, Turnus defeats Pallas and disrespects Pallas’ body and glory by stripping him of his armor, taking the young prince’s belt. Ironically, the sword belt is engraved with “pictured crime” of men being murdered on their wedding night by Danaus’ daughters. This scene of betrayal engraved on the belt parallels to when Turnus betrayed Aeneas by promising Aeneas Lavinia. The parallel between the two tragic scenes also foreshadows Turnus’ own ill-fated destiny:

For Turnus there will come a time

When he would give the world to see again

An untouchable Pallas, and will hate this day,

Hate that belt taken.

The scene on Pallas’ belt depicts

Danaus’ daughters not accepting their arranged marriages, their ultimate fate. Prior to Pallas’ death, Turnus is wounded by Pallas and barely escapes death. Refusing to accept his fate and die, Turnus gives all of his strength into striking and killing Pallas. By killing Pallas and stealing his belt, Turnus shows his true arrogance and is completely responsible for the ramifications he caused for the rest of the war, including the death of Mezentius. The description of the sword belt is extremely symbolic in Book X, as it demonstrates several parallels involving fate and betrayal. The action of Turnus stealing Pallas’ belt also foreshadows his own death, sealing his fate.
The moment Turnus killed Pallas, Aeneas’ fate not only rested with Rome but to avenge Pallas, “The minds of men are ignorant of fate // And of their future lot, unskilled to keep.” When Aeneas and Turnus finally meet, we see Turnus begging for his life. Turnus knew by stealing Pallas’ belt that he would be doomed. This is proven when Turnus says to Aeneas,
I do not fear your taunting fury,
Arrogant prince. It is the gods I fear
And Jove my enemy.

This statement shows Turnus’ fear of his own fate and attempts to prove his life is worthy to Aeneas. In his final words, Turnus acknowledges that he “earned” what is about to come, but wishes Aeneas would “go no further out of hatred.” After Turnus’ uncharacteristically emotional and passionate speech, Aeneas contemplates sparing the warrior’s life seeing that Turnus is human; however, his decision is final when he glances at the belt of Pallas strung on Turnus’ soldier. Aeneas knows he must kill Turnus to avenge Pallas,
You in your plunder, torn from one of mine
Shall I be robbed of you? This wound will come
From Pallas: Pallas makes this offering
And from your criminal blood exacts his due.

Aeneas treats Turnus similarly to the way Turnus treated Pallas before killing him: Aeneas completely ignores Turnus’ passionate plea and kills him.

Although Aeneas wanted to show compassion for Turnus, he knew he must avenge Pallas in order to seal Rome’s fate.

Aeneas’ defeat of Turnus symbolizes the Roman civilization victory. The Aeneid was written as Roman propaganda, and Virgil depicts Aeneas as the hero that wanted to be good, but chose the fate of Rome over his own, encapsulating what a true Roman hero was. One can also draw parallels between the deaths of Pallas and Turnus. When Turnus killed Pallas, Turnus’ fate was sealed that he would die as well. Similarly, when Aeneas kills Turnus, the fate of Rome’s victory is sealed. The parallel between the two deaths shows the difference between the two heroes: Turnus stole the belt of Pallas out of arrogance and ruthlessness, while Aeneas chose to kill Turnus not for his own personal vengeance, but for the fate of Rome. The ‘robbery’ of Pallas’ belt and the decision to kill Turnus are both key turning points for the future of Rome. Without these two acts, Rome’s destiny would still be unknown. Virgil wanted the readers to view Aeneas as a true war hero. Aeneas is a good man who is unafraid to show emotion, compassion, and his flaws. Although Aeneas did not want to kill Turnus, he ultimately became lesser of a person in order to complete his fate for the glory of

Rome.