... war is a defining characteristic for Virgil's characters, as it was with Homer's Iliad; Achilles excelled in combat and as such was declared the greatest of heroes as his strength was feared above all others during the Trojan War. In the Aeneid, Aeneas declares "Our hearts are strong in war. Our spirits are high. Our fighting men are tried and proved." Similar to ... nobles, were sustained by their 'inferior' countrymen in return for their skill in warfare, a similar role to the feudal knights of Britain. Therefore not partaking in a battle was considered by be a neglect of social ...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate