Why Juno was angry with Aeneas

In Roman mythology, Juno, the queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage, was known for her vindictive nature. One of the most significant examples of her anger can be seen in her relentless pursuit to hinder Aeneas, the Trojan hero, from fulfilling his destiny and founding the great city of Rome. But why was Juno so furious with Aeneas? Let us delve into the reasons behind her anger.

To truly understand Juno’s animosity towards Aeneas, we must first explore the origins of this feud. It all began with the Golden Apple incident, where Paris, a Trojan prince, was asked to judge which of the three goddesses, Juno, Minerva, and Venus, was the most beautiful. Paris, swayed by Venus’s promise of the most beautiful mortal woman, awarded her the Golden Apple. Juno felt deeply insulted and humiliated by this judgment, fueling her resentment towards all Trojan descendants, including Aeneas.

Juno’s anger towards Aeneas amplified due to a prophecy. It was foretold that a descendant of Trojan blood would one day overthrow her beloved city, Carthage. Juno, fiercely protective of her city, could not tolerate such a fate. Thus, when Aeneas, along with his fellow Trojans, sought refuge in Carthage after the fall of Troy, Juno’s fury intensified.

Juno’s anger also stemmed from personal reasons. She felt inferior to her husband Jupiter, who often favored mortal women over her. As Aeneas was the son of Venus, Jupiter’s lover, Juno resented him even more. She saw Aeneas as a reminder of Jupiter’s infidelity and sought to thwart his every move.

Juno employed various tactics to hinder Aeneas and prevent him from reaching Italy, where he was destined to establish the foundations of Rome. She manipulated the winds and summoned storms to wreak havoc on his fleet, causing immense suffering and loss. Seeking assistance from Aeolus, the god of the winds, Juno convinced him to release his violent winds upon Aeneas, hopelessly delaying his journey.

Moreover, Juno used her powers of manipulation to drive a wedge between Aeneas and Dido, the queen of Carthage. Knowing Dido’s vulnerability and her infatuation with Aeneas, Juno played on her emotions, causing her to fall deeply in love with him. This passion led Dido to neglect her responsibilities as a leader, ultimately resulting in her tragic demise. Juno rejoiced in Aeneas’s suffering, reveling in the pain she had caused.

It is essential to note that beneath her anger and vindictiveness, Juno was driven by fear. She feared the rise of Rome and the power it would hold over Carthage. As the protector of Carthage, she believed that any success of the Trojans could bring harm to her beloved city. Her anger and actions, therefore, were a manifestation of her deep-rooted anxiety.

In conclusion, Juno’s anger towards Aeneas was multifaceted. It originated from the Golden Apple incident, intensified due to a prophecy that foretold the destruction of Carthage by a Trojan descendant, and grew with her personal vendetta against Aeneas as a reminder of Jupiter’s infidelity. Juno employed various tactics to hinder Aeneas, aiming to prevent the rise of Rome and protect her beloved city. Her anger was a reflection of her fear and the lengths she was willing to go to forestall the fulfillment of destiny.