Virgil's epic tale tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, who abandons his city after its fall, taking with him his father Anchises and his little son Ascanius, for Aeneas is destined to found Rome and father the Roman race. On his journey Aeneas must prove his worth and attain the maturity necessary for such an illustrious task. He battles terrifying storms, encounters the fearsome Cyclops, falls in love with the beautiful Dido, Queen of Carthage, travels to the Underworld and fights a war in Italy. It is a story that has been inspirational for generations of artists, writers and musicians, including Dante, Milton, Purcell and Turner.