The Aeneid and the Belief System Just like today's belief system, the story of Aeneas and how he felt compelled to follow the gods and their direction, shows us that in every historical period there were beliefs that were important to all people of all cultures. In the Aeneid there are numerous mentions of the gods and how their influence convinced Aeneas to travel until he arrived in Italy and founded the new Rome. Although today most of us believe in only one god and numerous gods, "The Aeneid" provides insight into what Trojan life was like and how important the role of the gods really was to the Trojans. In the story of the Aeneid, Aeneas tells how he fled the burning city with his father and son. He also talks about the hearth gods who represent their fallen city. Confirmed by the gods that a glorious future awaits Aeneas in Italy, he sets sail with a fleet containing the surviving citizens of Troy. Aeneas recounts the trials they face on their journey in this epic tale. Twice they attempted to build a new city, only to be driven away by bad omens and plagues. He also tells of his journey to Carthage where he meets Dido. Even though Cupid played a role in Aeneas and Dido's love relationship, Aeneas still feels he needs to move. Articles like "Roman Religion" say that Roman religion was more of a ritual performed than faith or divinity. However, Virgil displays faith and divinity more than rituals in his writing of the Aeneid. They also mention that religion and politics were closely related. (Religion and Roman, 1998) We know that political connections with religion exist even in our current time. It is more so in Catholic religions such as the Pope and not in other religions such as Baptist or Methodist ones, but it is so anyway, and has existed since colonial times and the beginnings of