Who was Anchises in Greek mythology?
Anchises was a mortal man who herded cattle on Mount Ida and became the lover of the goddess Aphrodite. He fathered Aeneas, the Trojan hero destined to lead survivors from Troy.
Questions about Anchises
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened when Anchises told others about his union with Aphrodite?
Zeus struck Anchises down with thunder for revealing their secret encounter. The punishment left him either blind or dead depending on the version of the myth.
Where did Anchises die during the Trojan exile?
Anchises died in Sicily after storms forced the Trojan refugees to stop there many years after leaving Troy. His tomb became a site where Aeneas held funeral games and established a priest to attend it.
How did Anchises help Aeneas find Rome's future in the underworld?
Anchises showed Aeneas souls waiting by the river Lethe to explain their reincarnation as future Roman descendants. He pointed out figures like Romulus and Marcellus to reveal the lineage leading to Caesar and Augustus.
Which famous paintings depict Aeneas carrying his father Anchises from Troy?
Federico Barocci painted a version now housed in the Galleria Borghese in Rome while Carle van Loo created another dated 1729 at the Louvre. William Blake Richmond also produced Venus and Anchises around 1889 or 1890 to illustrate this rescue scene.