Anchises

In Greek and Roman mythology, Anchises was a member of the royal family of Troy. He was the son of King Capys of Dardania and Themiste, daughter of Ilus, who was son of Tros. Anchises is best known as the father of Aeneas, a hero in many stories.

Anchises was a lover of the goddess Aphrodite, who is also known as Venus in Roman tales. The god Zeus made Aphrodite fall in love with him while he was herding sheep near Mount Ida. Aphrodite told Anchises they would have a son named Aeneas, but warned him not to tell anyone she was the mother. When he did tell, Zeus struck him with a thunderbolt, which either blinded or killed him in different versions of the story.

After the Trojan War destroyed Troy, the older Anchises was carried to safety from the burning city by his son Aeneas. Aeneas also had his wife Creusa and small son Ascanius with him during the escape. Anchises later died and was buried in Sicily. Many years after that, Aeneas visited the place of the dead and saw his father again.

The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite

The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite tells the story of how the goddess Aphrodite met Anchises. Only three goddesses—Athena, Artemis, and Hestia—are not affected by Aphrodite's powers. Even Zeus, the ruler of the gods, could not stop her. To deal with her, Zeus made her fall for a handsome man named Anchises.

Aphrodite found Anchises while he was taking care of his cattle on Mount Ida. She appeared to him disguised as a princess, convincing him she was brought there by Hermes to be his wife. Anchises was very interested in her, and they spent time together.

Afterward, Aphrodite revealed who she really was to Anchises. Though he was worried, she reassured him. She promised him a son named Aeneas, who would be important to the people of Troy. She also told him stories of other gods who had relationships with humans. She said their son would be cared for by nature spirits until he was five, and then she would bring him to Anchises. Finally, she warned him not to tell anyone she was the mother of his child, or Zeus might punish him.

Anchises in the Aeneid

The Aeneid by Virgil tells the story of Aeneas after the fall of Troy. Anchises, Aeneas' father, is an important character in the story. Even though Anchises passes away early in the story, he appears several times to give advice to Aeneas.

In one part of the story, Aeneas is telling Dido about the fall of Troy. Aeneas goes home to rescue Anchises, his wife Creusa, and his son Ascanius. At first, Anchises does not want to leave, but after seeing a sign from the gods, he agrees to go. Aeneas carries Anchises on his back as they flee from Troy.

Later, Anchises helps guide the Trojans as they travel to new lands. He tells Aeneas to seek advice from the gods, and he helps Aeneas understand where they should go next. Sadly, Anchises passes away in Sicily before they reach Italy.

In another part of the story, Aeneas travels to the underworld and meets his father again. They have an emotional meeting, and Anchises shows Aeneas visions of their future descendants, including great leaders of Rome. This is the last time Anchises appears in the story.

Anchises in Metamorphoses

Anchises appears a few times in Ovid's Metamorphoses. In Book 9, after the goddess Hebe restored youth to Iolaus, Venus asks that youth also be restored to Anchises, her loved one.

In Book 13, Anchises is mentioned when Aeneas, along with other Trojan refugees, travels to Delos after fleeing Troy. There, Anchises meets Anius, the king and a priest of Apollo, and asks about Anius's children. Anius tells how his daughters could turn anything they touched into grain, wine, or olive oil, but this gift brought them trouble. The daughters were turned into white doves to free them from their suffering.

In Book 14, Anchises is mentioned again. Aeneas returns to Eryx to honor his father at Anchises' tomb. Aeneas also journeys to the underworld, where he meets the spirit of his father Anchises.

Family tree

Anchises was a member of the royal family of Troy. He was the son of King Capys of Dardania and Themiste, who was the daughter of Ilus, the son of Tros. He is best known as the father of Aeneas.