Roman Myths by Diane Namm

Author:Diane Namm
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Published: 2013-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

The Golden Bough

After sailing for many weeks, Aeneas’s ships finally reached the Italian shore. Aeneas remembered the words of the prophet he had met when he began his journey.

“Seek the cave of the Sibyl of Cumae,” the prophet had told him. “She has deep wisdom and can tell the future. The Sibyl will know where you must go and what you must do once you reach your destined land.”

Aeneas set out to find the Sibyl’s cave. Before too long, he did.

The Sibyl’s cave was dim and had a low ceiling. Aeneas bent and walked carefully over a floor littered with cracked shells and broken twigs.

“Who goes there?” a creaky voice called out.

“Good Sibyl,” Aeneas greeted her. “It is I, Aeneas, son of the mortal Anchises and the goddess Venus.” Suddenly the cave was flooded with candlelight.

“Well, Aeneas, son of the mortal Anchises and the goddess Venus. What do you want?” the Sibyl asked.

“I have come to you to learn my fate. Jupiter commanded me to reach this land. I am meant to create a great empire. But what am I supposed to do?” Aeneas asked.

The Sibyl held her clawlike hands to her forehead and closed her squinty eyes.

Aeneas watched her wrinkled face for an answer or a sign. At long last, the Sibyl opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on Aeneas.

“You must ask your father, Anchises,” the Sibyl said.

Aeneas’s heart filled with despair.

“But I cannot. My father is gone. He died during a great storm,” Aeneas cried. “There must be something you can tell me.”

“Your father is the only one who can help you,” the Sibyl replied.

Then the candlelight began to grow dim.

“But wait! How can I reach him?” Aeneas asked. “He is no longer in this world!”

“Then you will have to travel to the world in which he lives,” the Sibyl said.

“To the underworld?” Aeneas asked in a hushed voice.

“Yes, you must travel to the underworld ruled by Hades,” the Sibyl said. The candlelight was now barely visible. Aeneas’s heart sank.

“Good Sibyl, is there any way you can help me?” Aeneas spoke into the darkness.

“If you bring me the golden bough, I will take you to the underworld,” the Sibyl crowed.

“I will bring it to you,” Aeneas said eagerly. “Where is the golden bough?” he asked.

“Deep in the heart of the forest, there is a tree with one gold branch. It grows in the center of Lake Avernus,” the Sibyl told him. “The lake protects the underworld’s entrance. Only those who carry the golden bough may enter.”

“How will I find the lake?” Aeneas asked.

“Follow your nose,” the Sibyl cackled. Then she vanished into thin air.

The candlelight in the cave flickered out. Aeneas was left in the dark.

Aeneas stumbled out of the dark cave into the bright light of day. He wandered through the nearby forest. There were so many trees. It seemed impossible that he would be able to find one gold branch. Just then, he saw two white doves fly overhead. He recognized the doves as the birds of Venus, his mother.

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