Vergil, Aeneid 1.748–749

“Nor did unhappy Dido fail to drag out the night

With all kinds of talk as she was drinking deep of love.”

nec non et vario noctem sermone trahebat

infelix Dido longumque bibebat amorem,

Last year, Christian Lehmann (@buffyantiqua) told the story of Aeneas and Dido from Vergil’s Aeneid through GIFs from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Here it is again, because, well, this is what we need.

This is not only genius which the world needs to witness for its own sake, but it also combines a few things I love: Homeric reception/myth and Buffy. (I tried to write about this once and partially failed.)

I loved this so much that I wanted to share it with those who don’t use Twitter and Christian was kind enough to give his consent (see his work on “The 100 and Classical (Under)Worlds” too). This is a lively and fascinating retelling–it forces reconsiderations, I think, of both the Aeneid and BVTS. Also, Buffy and Spike > Buffy and Riley.

Aeneas and Anna hanging out and braiding each others hair: …solam nam perfidus ille / te colere, arcanos etiam tibi credere sensus;

"That traitor listened to you alone, to you he confided his secret feelings" (Aen. 4.421-422) pic.twitter.com/ztU45D3WND — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

She's overcome with love and wanders the city like a deer#BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/O8VvuJWe7e — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

Juno has a plan to get them alone in a cave#BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/t2wFyU3BAz — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

They wind up in a cave together.#BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/tLhtdgYwI3 — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

Mercury comes down to get Aeneas back on track #BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/yIk7boYaMO — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

He's a douche and says he's gotta dip#BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/2rEGXCqT48 — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

He has to found Rome, after all#BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/EDoUTkTJyt — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

Dido starts planning her death and we readers are all#BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/dNsQZ5VSTD — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

And I'm destroyed Thanks for experiencing the fourth book of the Aeneid through #buffythevampireslayer gifs#BuffyTheAeneid pic.twitter.com/Y9brCnNOrb — Christian Lehmann (@BuffyAntiqua) October 14, 2018

[below is my contribution: I learned this passage in high school where it was obligatory to understand that Dido was not dutiful enough and gave into passion, whereas Aeneas was oh so very pius.]

Vergil, Aeneid 4. 165-172

To the same cave came Dido and the Trojan captain

Earth first then nuptial Dido gave their sign

The lightning bolts were shining out and the Sky was a witness

to their bridal rites as the Nymphs sounded out on the mount’s highest peak

That day was the first cause of death; the first cause of evils.

For no longer was Dido cautioned by appearances or rumor

And no more was she harboring a secret love.

She calls it a marriage: with this name she cloaks her fault.

speluncam Dido dux et Troianus eandem

deveniunt. prima et Tellus et pronuba Iuno

dant signum; fulsere ignes et conscius Aether

conubiis, summoque ulularunt vertice Nymphae.

ille dies primus leti primusque malorum

causa fuit. neque enim specie famave movetur

nec iam furtivum Dido meditatur amorem;

coniugium vocat; hoc praetexit nomine culpam.

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