Editing Anchises (section)

== Anchises in the ''Aeneid'' ==
The ''[[Aeneid]]'' by Virgil describes the journey of Aeneas after the fall of Troy. Anchises, the father of Aeneas, is a character in the epic. Even though Anchises is dead for most of the epic, he still makes multiple appearances in it, oftentimes to advise Aeneas.

=== Book 2 ===
[[File:Aineias Ankhises Louvre F118.jpg|thumb|Aeneas carrying Anchises from Troy. 520-510 BC.]]
Anchises' first major appearance comes in Book 2. He is mentioned while Aeneas is telling [[Dido]] about the fall of Troy.<ref name=":3" /> During the fall of Troy, Aeneas makes his way home to save Anchises, his wife [[Creusa (wife of Aeneas)|Creusa]], and his son Ascanius.<ref name=":3" /> At first Anchises refuses to go with Aeneas and tells Aeneas to leave without him.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas refuses to leave Anchises and declares that they will all die in Troy.<ref name=":3" /> Creusa argues with Aeneas over his decision and while they are arguing a painless flame appears on Ascanius' head.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises notices this and prays to Jupiter for a sign that they must leave.<ref name=":3" /> Just then they hear thunder and see a falling star.<ref name=":3" /> This convinces Anchises to go willingly with Aeneas.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas carries Anchises on his back, Anchises carries their household gods, and Ascanius walks beside his father as they all flee Troy.<ref name=":3" /> Creusa was following behind them but is killed during the escape.<ref name=":3" /> As they leave Troy they meet up with other fleeing Trojans.<ref name=":3" />

=== Book 3 ===
Anchises is mentioned in Book 3 while Aeneas continues his tale of how the Trojans came to be in [[Carthage]].<ref name=":3" /> Anchises serves as a leader and advisor for the fleeing Trojans. After leaving Troy, the refugees make their way to [[Thrace]] and then to [[Delos]].<ref name=":3" /> In Delos, [[Apollo]] tells them that they must make their new home in the original home of their ancestors.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises misinterprets this to mean [[Crete]], so the Trojans head for Crete.<ref name=":3" /> There they establish a city, but they are soon overwhelmed by a plague.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises instructs Aeneas to seek out the Delian oracle.<ref name=":3" /> Before Aeneas does, he is visited in his dreams by their household gods who inform him that they are in the wrong place and must go to Italy.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas tells Anchises of this dream.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises realizes that Apollo must have meant for them to establish a home in Italy, and so the Trojans head toward Italy.<ref name=":3" /> Italy is far away, and the Trojans must make many stops.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises dies in Sicily before the Trojans make it to Italy.<ref name=":3" />

=== Book 5 ===
Anchises is mentioned in Book 5 after the Trojans leave Carthage.<ref name=":3" /> Storms force them to stop in Sicily, and Aeneas recalls that it has been a year since his father died, who had been buried with great honor.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas declares for a festival to be held in honor of the deceased Anchises.<ref name=":3" /> Rituals are performed and sacrifices made at the tomb of Anchises.<ref name=":3" /> On the ninth day, Aeneas holds [[Athletics in epic poetry#The funeral games for Anchises|funeral games]] for his father that consist of a boat race, foot race, mock battle, boxing, and archery.<ref name=":3" />  After the funeral games, the Trojan women who have grown tired of traveling set fire to the ships.<ref name=":3" /> Even though most ships are saved by [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]], Aeneas loses heart and contemplates staying in Sicily.<ref name=":3" /> The ghost of Anchises appears, telling Aeneas that he was sent by the god Jupiter who saved the ships.<ref name=":3" /> He encourages Aeneas to continue his journey, informing him that he should leave the weary Trojans in Sicily and take the strongest with him to Italy.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises also instructs Aeneas to visit him in the underworld.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas follows Anchises' advice and leaves Sicily, but before departing, he establishes that Anchises' tomb should be attended to by a priest and it should be designated a tract of woodland.<ref name=":3" />

=== Book 6 ===
Anchises is mentioned in Book 6 when Aeneas voyages to the underworld.<ref name=":3" /> When Aeneas finds his father in the underworld, they have a tearful reunion.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas tries to hug Anchises, yet he is unable.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas then observes swarms of people gathered around a river.<ref name=":3" /> He asks his father about the river and those surrounding it.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises replies that the people are his future descendants and that the river is called [[Lethe]].<ref name=":3" /> He expands that after suffering and being cleansed in the underworld, souls that are meant to be reincarnated go to the river Lethe to forget their memories so that they can be reincarnated.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises then shows Aeneas some of his descendants and discusses their deeds.<ref name=":3" /> He first mentions his son [[Silvius (mythology)|Silvius]] who will be born from Aeneas and [[Lavinia]] but after Aeneas is dead.<ref name=":3" /> Anchises then tells him of [[Romulus]] who is descended from Silvius, a member of the [[Julia (gens)|Caesarian]] line descended from Ascanius. He further describes that the Romans will prosper.<ref name=":3" /> Aeneas sees [[Marcellus (nephew of Augustus)|Marcellus]] and asks Anchises about his identity. Anchises states that he is Marcellus, who will hold great promise for the Romans but die too young and thus cause them great grief.<ref name=":3" /> Finally, Anchises leads Aeneas through the [[gates of horn and ivory]] and out of the underworld.<ref name=":3" /> This is the last major appearance of Anchises.