EVANDER (king of Pallantium)

Evander led his Arcadian followers from Pallantium to found a settlement on the Tiber, a move urged by Carmentis after she was warned by Apollo.^2,3 His people built a city in the hills, which they named Pallanteum to honor his son, Pallas.^7,8,5,9 The threshold of his house had previously received Heracles during the hero's triumph, as Evander entertained the hero while he was driving the oxen of Geryon.^1,9,10,11 Evander told Heracles that he would be enrolled among the gods after his labours, and the king consecrated a grove to Heracles and offered sacrifice in the Grecian manner.¹¹ After the danger passed, the Arcadians offered a thankful sacrifice to the old gods.¹²

When Aeneas arrived as a suppliant, risking his own life, Evander and his son Pallas welcomed him as a guest and sealed a friendly peace league.^7,1 He led Aeneas into his low and scant dwelling, where he offered a bed made of leaves and a Libyan bear-skin.¹⁰ Evander advised Aeneas to scorn pomp and shape his soul to follow a god, and he rose from his couch to seek his guest.^10,5 He remembered a former promise and intended to give a gift, keeping Aeneas and his son at his side during their journey back to town.^5,3 Evander entertained Aeneas and his son with various conversation while they traveled, and he told the story of the crime and death of his false guest, Argus.³ He stated that the Arcadians believe Zeus's right hand shakes his aegis on the hill.³

Evander's wife died before the loss of their son, Pallas, who was his last and only joy.^13,14 Aeneas promised Evander that Pallas would see his throne established and ride victoriously home, and the king expected to offer vows and heap gifts on the altars of his gods.⁸ At their parting, Evander embraced Aeneas fondly, bidding him go to win imperial power, but he clung to his son’s hand and wept without stay.^8,14 He fell in a swoon and was lifted by slaves.¹⁴ Evander claimed he had killed the front ranks of enemies near Praeneste and burned their shields on his triumph day.¹⁴ He stated he had killed King Erulus, who possessed three lives, and despoiled him of his arms three separate times.¹⁴

Turnus claims that Evander's people paid dearly for welcoming Aeneas.¹⁵ Evander rushed into the crowd, fell onto the bier of his dead son, and clung to his pale corpse while weeping and groaning in anguish.¹³ He wished he had died by the spear of a Rutule fighting for the Trojans and asked the Trojans to carry a message of his grief to their king.¹³