Ercilla between Virgil and Justin: the episode of Dido in la Araucana (chants XXXII-XXXIII)

Abstract

Acording to the classical historians, Carthage was established by Queen Elissa Dido in 814 B.C. The history of the Queen gained literary importance because of her appearance in Virgil’s Aeneid in the 1st Century B.C. The Mantuan poet created an unfortunate love story between Dido and Aeneas, in which she commits suicide after he leaves her. The Vocontii historian Pompeius Trogus and his epitomizer Justin recuperated the historical tradition and made Dido the symbol of the loyal and chaste widow. Alonso de Ercilla brought back her story in the third part of La Araucana, published in Madrid in 1589. The Spanish poet took some elements from both traditions in order to defend Dido’s image of virtuosity