The land between Greek and Rome has got a rich culture that cannot pass unnoticed. There are tales of heroic figures and gods who had competing interest in the lives of the people. Some of the heroic figures, Achillies and Aeneas, are celebrated for their past glories. Although they contrast sharply, they have a lot in common. As a brave warrior, Achillies appreciates the fact that he is half-divine and half mortal. Nevertheless, he does not dwell on that fact. Even his pride is simply a personal trait that has nothing to do with knowing his fate and destiny. Perhaps the fact that we find Achillies matching out against Hector reveals that he seeks to know himself beyond the establishment of the oracle. He is fully aware that his fate and Hector’s are tied together. However, the human nature in him makes him livid with fury and he proceeds to do things his way. It should also be noted that his involvement with Briseis was probably another scheme to know himself. Achillies comes to war not because the king Agamemnon has ordered it, but for his own glory. He breaks all established rules so as to know himself better.

Unknowingly, Aeneas meets Achillies during Trojan War though not one on one. Apparently each one of them does not know that the gods are on their sides for different reasons. Apollo, Venus and Aphrodite do everything possible to protect Aeneas who is still face d with a lot of responsibility in the future. One can conclude that the way Aeneas follows instructions from the god presets him as not being in-charge of his personality entirely as Achillies. Aeneas does not know himself and makes no observable personal effort to follow his own will. Nevertheless, Like Achillies, he is a brave warrior though destined for leadership in a far land. He begins to discover himself when he takes on a journey away from Troy.

The degree to which each one knows himself varies significantly. Achillies appears not to know himself beyond the oracle, fate and destiny. Nevertheless, he does not care about that fact. In fact, he lets himself loose to do as he pleases. In the final analysis, it is not very clear how much he grew to know himself up to the point he is shot with an arrow by Paris. Achillies was still in the process of knowing himself and making a change from living as a half-divine warrior to living as other men with emotions like love and anger inter-playing to influence his decisions. Surprisingly, Aeneas knows so little about himself and easily fulfills the gods’ plans by taking every instruction without any deviation.

Achillies sacrifices an early glory by delaying to enter the war. He also sacrifices himself when he opts to face Hector, knowing very well that their fate is tied together. He kills Hector and disgraces him and bravely awaits his own fate. Similarly, Aeneas makes a lot of personal sacrifices. First of all, he heeds the god Poseidon’s advice to flee the Trojan War so as to escape Achillies onslaught. Aeneas moves to Carthage with Aeneads and falls for Dido the queen of Carthage. Nevertheless, he abandons Dido and moves to Italy, bring unto him a curse that forever saw Rome and Carthage at war with each other. Dido is so angry with Aeneas that even in hades she would not bear the sight of him. It is also a tragic end for Aeneas that the woman for whom he sacrificed Dido and drew his men into war against king Turnus of Rutuli.