Aeneas and Dido on mosaic

Roman mosaic showing Aeneas and Dido found at Low Ham Roman Villa in Somerset (south-wester England). Currently, the object is in the Museum of Somerset.

According to the famous work of Virgil “Aeneid”, Aeneas (a fugitive from Troy) found himself at the court of the African queen Dido during his trip to Italy. Both felt in love, but one night Aeneas received a message from the gods that Carthage was not the end of his journey. The Trojan decided to leave the city and sail away. Dido out of despair after the departure of Aeneas, she pierced herself with a sword, previously cursing Aeneas. It was the beginning of the age-old hatred of Rome and Carthage.