Elissa & Aeneas
Elissa
stood on the dock at Tyre. Her beautiful olive skin was caressed by
long black hair. She was a young and beautiful Phoenicians princess.
She watched as the last of her followers boarded the ship. Finally
she bade farewell to her home and her murdered husband. She had no
more time for blood soaked Tyre. Her brother, Pygmalion had murdered
her husband. Sychaeus was a good man, but Pygmalion was a greedy
king. His widowed sister now fled.
Elissa,
the sorrowful widow vowed never to marry again. As her fleet
disembarked toward North Africa. The westward wind cradled her young
beautiful body as she stood on the top of her trireme.
When the
settlers arrived they set up camp. A local Berber chief had allowed
the Phoenician refugees to settle on this parcel of land. On this
spot Elissa and her people built a new city. The port was called
Carthage. And Elissa was made the queen of her new city. Her new
city began to prosper. It was an oasis surrounded by marauding
bandits.
It was
in this environment that the Carthaginian coast guard intercepted
some ships that had been lost at sea. They brought these vessels to
port. The leader of the ragged expedition was brought before the
magnanimous queen. His name was Aeneas. He was a Trojan man. He had
dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He stood in front of the
radiant queen speechless.
Moments
which felt like ages passed until he was able to address the
magnificent Queen. He spoke, “I am Aeneas, the last prince of Troy.
The Greeks have razed my home. Me and my people are sailing west to
find a new homeland.” The angelic Queen stared at the young prince,
“My dear you are welcome to stay in my city as long as you need to
resupply and reequip”. Aeneas walked across the room and kissed the
Queen's hand. “Thank you” Aeneas said, “Your kindness is only
matched by your rare beauty.” Elissa blushed as she bade her guest
farewell. She imparted one last word to him, “If you and your
Trojans should choose to stay, I extend Carthaginian citizenship to
each and every one of you.”
The
Queen retired to her chamber to discuss with her servants this
newcomer. Her young maid continued to extoll the handsomeness of this
wayward prince. Elissa quietly agreed. In appreciation she would
prepare a feast the following night and feed all the nobles of the
Trojan caravan.
The next
day the Trojans enjoyed the feat. Elissa's servants brought out
course after course. The Trojans celebrated with good food and wine.
The merry Trojans enjoyed the celebration as the night eroded. The
nobles began to argue with Aeneas. They warned him, that they were on
a mission from the gods. They told him Zeus would punish the Trojans
for ignoring him. Aeneas laughed it off. He reminded them it would be
rude to refuse the good queen's generosity.
The
party rolled on as the nobles each bid their hostess farewell.
Finally it was only Aeneas and Elissa. Aeneas looked at the beautiful
woman, “My queen your hospitality knows no end.” Elissa's lips
curled as she sipped the wine, “MY Trojan lord, it is for the
benefit of my people that I welcome your Trojans in my city.”
Aeneas took a sip out of her wine glass, “Is that all? I thought it
was my charm that allowed my people this quiet retreat.” Elissa
looked at him, “No my darling, I have sworn myself to chastity, I
will never love another, not since my husband was murdered.” Aeneas
looked at his queen, “Then I shall bid you good night.” Elissa
looked to him, “Tomorrow we shall take in the sights. I know a
beautiful mountain path, please don't refuse me the modest pleasure
of your company my prince.” Aeneas looked sternly at Elissa, “No
my queen, there is nothing I could refuse you.”
That
afternoon Aeneas and Elissa took to the mountain paths to breathe in
the mountain air. Elissa walked beside the Trojan prince. She wore a
beautiful white gown. Aeneas saw a moment of weakness, and seized
Elissa's hand. She made a quiet noise, and Aeneas pressed his lips
against her hand. The Queen blushed. And then she spoke, “My dear
prince, you do my modesty much harm.” Aeneas looked at the Queen,
“You are the vision of Venus herself”.
Elissa
hurried Aeneas along. As they walked the sky grew cloudy. A crack of
thunder. And it began to rain. Aeneas grabbed Elissa's hand and
hurried them into a cave to get out of the rain. Aeneas took off his
tunic and placed it on the cave ground for the queen to sit on. Then
she motioned for him to join her.
Aeneas
put his arm around Elissa. The queen struggled. His word were enough
to disarm her. As Aeneas undressed the Queen she looked at the
prince. Elissa smiled at him “We are both exiles my fair prince.
Perhaps, we can make this exile a place of belonging.” Aeneas
looked at her, “Than remove from me the sorrow of my exile.” The
prince caressed Elissa. As they laid together their lips met. For
hours the two exiles laid in the cave. Aeneas passionately consumed
Elissa's love. Her body trembling as she felt the full extent of the
exiled prince.
As the
storm settled the lovers fell asleep in each others arms. The next
day Elissa greeted her court, she was the very picture of happiness.
She showed benevolence to every supplicant. Several times Elissa
asked after Aeneas. “Where had her lover gone?” As the day rolled
on she heard no words from her lover.
Finally
a Carthaginian guard ran into her throne room. The guard yelled, “My
queen the Trojans have set sail.” Elissa froze, quite beside
herself. She stood there crushed. The guard remained, “My dear
Queen should we intercept them?” Elissa remained silent. Finally
her sister entered. Her sister spoke “Elissa what is your command?”
The Queen stared at her sister, eyes full of tears. Elissa spoke,
“Build me a pyre!” Her sister screamed, “No Elissa that Trojan
is not worth it!” Elisss feigned a smile, “My dear sister it is
to burn the gifts that bastard gave to me and nothing more.” With
this news her sister left to build the pyre.
The next
morning Elissa called all the nobles to the pyre. She placed all the
gifts Aeneas had given her. And then the Queen climbed on top of the
pyre, “My Carthaginians, I want you to swear eternal hatred on the
Trojans. Carthage will always be an enemy of the children of Aeneas!”
At that moment Elissa drove a sword into her chest. Her sister
screamed and the nobles looked on with horror. Elissa's sister rushed
to the pyre, but the queen had dropped the torch.
The
nobles watched their Queen immolate all the while cursing the
children of Aeneas. The entire group of assembled nobles and the
sister of Elissa all swore eternal hatred on the Trojans and the
descendants of Aeneas. And so the Ancient rivalry of Rome and
Carthage was born. Aeneas succumbed to the Trojan nobles. He left his
lover to her fate. Yet, it broke her heart. If ever he was able to
see her again he would only ask for forgiveness. There Aeneas went,
at the call of his gods, to the words of his nobles. He went on to
found a city in Italy, Alba Longa. This is where the original Romans
would eventually come to settle in Roma. The eternal enemy of
Carthage.
~Dedicated
to my lover Princess Yosra, with my promise I will never leave my
Elissa
