Rebirth in Dreams: The Concealed Metaphor of the Golden Bough in Virgil’s “Aeneid”
Abstract
The imagery of the golden bough in Book Six of Virgil’s “Aeneid” has always been a topic of great interest among scholars. Understanding the significance of the golden bough is essential for unraveling the meaning of Book Six and comprehending the entire epic. This paper first reviews all the scenarios involving the golden bough and employs methods such as close textual reading and textual verification. It argues that, in Virgil’s depiction, the golden bough has three main metaphors: firstly, it serves as the initiation ritual for Aeneas to enter the underworld in the flesh; secondly, it symbolizes the imperial scepter, pointing to the “life-in-death” for both individuals and the state; and finally, it metaphorically represents a “rebirth in dreams,” marking a crack in the Roman foundation myth.
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