Aeneas

Aeneas (Αἰνείας) was a Greek or Roman demigod son of Anchises and Aphrodite/Venus.

Mythology
Since Venus has caused the other gods of Olympus to fall in love with mortals, Jupiter retaliated and caused Venus to fall in love with Anchises. After Aeneas was born, Venus gave him to nymphs to be cared for until he reached the age of five then he could be given to his father.

In some myths, Venus warned Anchises not to tell about him and her. Despite her warning, he bragged to others about having sex with her so Jupiter threw a thunder bolt at his feet which caused him to be crippled.

After the fall of Troy at the end of the Trojan War, Aeneas was told by the gods to flee with a group of people. He did as he was told and he settled with these other people in Italy, becoming the progenitor of the Romans. Others who escaped with him were Anchises, Misenus, Achates, Sergestus, Acmon, Iapyx, Palinurus, and Ascanius. While Aeneas and the others traveled through Sicily, Anchises died.

After arriving at Carthage, Aeneas had an affair with Queen Dido. Juno tried to get Aeneas and Dido to marry since she did not want him continuing his journey but Mercury was sent by Jupiter and Venus to continue Aeneas on his path in secret. In her wrath and despair, Dido laid a curse so that Carthage and Rome would forever be enemies and then committed suicide.

Aeneas returned to Sicily and set up funeral games for his deceased father. At the end of the funeral games, Aeneas traveled to the Underworld where the shade of his father showed him his future and legacy, the Roman empire.

Aeneas and his followers were then welcomed to Latium by King Latinus. A prophecy told Latinus that his daughter Lavinia would be married to a man from another land. Latinus organized for her to be married to Aeneas but she was already promised to Turnus, the king of the Rutuli. In retaliation, Turnus declared war on Aeneas due to the manipulation Juno. Despite a long fight, Aeneas was victorious and Turnus was killed.