DIDO (legendary founder and first queen of Carthage)

Dido was married to Sicheus, whom she loved deeply and to whom she was exclusively due.^5,9 She was a Sidonian woman who received Aeneas on the Libyan coasts, having been warned by Hermes to welcome the Trojan refugees to her land.^10,11 Although she was described as being blind to the decree of Fate regarding the Trojans, she eventually awaited her guests with a benign and at-ease heart.¹¹ She extended a welcome to Aeneas and his ruined companions in her kingdom, showing him affection and welcoming him into her home.^12,10 Dido gifted Aeneas a purple mantle broidered with fine gold threads as a gift of love, and gave a horse from Sidon to Iulus as a gift.^13,14

Rumors claimed Dido looked favorably upon Aeneas and agreed to marry him, spending the winter in revelry and ease.¹⁵ These rumors alleged that she neglected her crown and kingdom for lust, though she was described as a lovely widow in the spread rumors.¹⁵ Eros caused her to forget her late husband and feel new love, unaware that a god was betraying her during this encounter.⁴ She was described as burning with a madness caused by Zeus, and fell victim to a snare set by two gods working together.¹⁶ Dido deceived everyone while being deceived herself, and her mind became ruined and deluded by mad thoughts.^10,17

When Aeneas abandoned her, Dido was described as an unhappy woman being abandoned, and referred to as a fallen Queen.^18,9 She referred to Aeneas as her guest, noting it was the only title left to her, and desired to rend his body and hurl him on the sea.^19,17 She felt loathing toward her own life and sought to quench the flame of it, desiring her death to be an omen for the Trojan as he sailed.²⁰ With one foot unsandalled and her cincture free, Dido killed herself with a sword on a pile built for sacred rites.^21,10

In her final moments, Dido's eyes were bloodshot and wide-rolling, her cheek twitching and fever-spotted, and her brow cold and blanched with approaching death.²⁰ She turned dimmed eyes skyward seeking the sweet light of day before groaning, and rose three times with a straining arm before dropping helpless three times.⁶ Her voice was described as thunder as she directed supplications to a just power on high who heeds lovers.²¹ She was described as an infuriate Queen and wretched, possessing a mind ruined and deluded by mad thoughts.^22,23,17