The story of Dido is recounted in a number of ancient sources, but we know it today largely because of its treatment in the Aeneid, one of the greatest epics of Western civilization. A refugee from her own home in Tyre in what is now modern-day Lebanon, Dido came to found and rule the city that would become one of the most powerful in antiquity:  Carthage. Though there is debate among scholars as to the extent to which Dido was a real person, the stories surrounding her are steeped in myth and legend. Dido and her story have been depicted in art, literature, and drama from antiquity through to the modern age. 

In this course, we'll explore the story of Dido, particularly as it is recounted in Virgil's Aeneid. The Aeneid is the great Roman epic that details the story of Aeneas, a Trojan who went on to become one of the founders of ancient Rome. As Aeneas makes his way to Italy after the Trojan War, he is blown off course to Carthage, where he encounters Dido. The legendary relationship between Dido and Aeneas sets the stage for a lasting enmity between Rome and Carthage.  Although the Aeneid is primarily the story of Aeneas and his journey, Virgil takes great care to recount Dido's story from a detailed and sympathetic perspective, and the result is one of the most fascinating and powerful chapters of literature from the ancient world. 

This course is designed to be more of a casual lecture format, with around-the-campfire style storytelling and dynamic discussion woven throughout. We will explore the key aspects of Dido's mythological story:  who she was, where she came from, and how she came to be a powerful female ruler in an ancient world that was dominated by men. Female rulers were rare in antiquity; though women may have ruled alongside their kingly husbands, they had very little power of their own. Dido was an exception--a sole female ruler, beloved and respected by her people, who founded a powerful city. In addition to exploring Dido's story from a more story-based perspective, we'll also participate in some analysis of how Dido defied the gender norms of the time, and how she was portrayed from the perspective of one of the most famous male poets of his day. We'll also discuss her relationship with Aeneas, and how and why their union led to Dido's downfall. Though it is up for debate as to whether or not Dido herself was a historical figure (and this is something we'll discuss in class as well), Carthage was most definitely a historical city, and we will make note of Carthage's place in the ancient world, particularly in its relationship to ancient Rome. All analysis is age-appropriate and suitable for younger learners. Because Dido has been such a popular and enduring figure in art and literature, this course will use slides to display artistic depictions of Dido from throughout the ages, and we'll discuss how her story influenced authors like Shakespeare.

This course is perfect for those learners who love mythology, good stories, ancient history, art, or literature.