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Aeneas

American  
[ih-nee-uhs] / ɪˈni əs /
Also Aineias

noun

Classical Mythology.
  1. a Trojan hero, the reputed ancestor of the Romans: protagonist of the Aeneid.


Aeneas British  
/ ɪˈniːəs /

noun

  1. classical myth a Trojan prince, the son of Anchises and Aphrodite, who escaped the sack of Troy and sailed to Italy via Carthage and Sicily. After seven years, he and his followers established themselves near the site of the future Rome

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Aeneas Cultural  
  1. A famous warrior of classical mythology; a leader in the Trojan War (see also Trojan War) on the Trojan side. After the fall of Troy, Aeneas fled with his father and son and was shipwrecked at Carthage in northern Africa. There Dido, the queen of Carthage, fell in love with him and ultimately committed suicide when she realized that Aeneas could not stay with her forever. After many trials, Aeneas arrived in what is now Italy. The ancient Romans believed that they were descended from the followers of Aeneas.


Discover More

Because he carried his elderly father out of the ruined Troy on his back, Aeneas represents filial devotion and duty.

Aeneas is the hero of the Aeneid of Virgil.

The doomed love of Aeneas and Dido has been a source for artistic creation since ancient times.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The story of the first Carthaginian queen, Dido, was co-opted by the Roman poet Virgil, whose hero, Aeneas, spurns her.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 11, 2026

But according to Dr Assael, Aeneas is a tool to guide historians, not a replacement for them.

From BBC Jul. 23, 2025

Viewpoint 75, Grand Terrace 54: Wesley Waddles and Aeneas Grullon each had 24 points for Viewpoint.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 27, 2024

Viewpoint 67, Moorpark 49: Aeneas Grullon had 19 points and Wesley Waddles added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Viewpoint.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 20, 2024

Her dear son Aeneas was all but ruined, she said.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

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