The+Aeneid+and+Leadership+or+heroism


 * THE AENEID AND LEADERSHIP. This has been taken from Mark J. Ahn's The Aeneid and modern concepts of leadership, published in the NZACT Bulletin 28: June 2011**

Despite significant changes in technological progress and organisational forms, the study of leaders and leadership has been a [continued] source of interest and inquiry as societies have evolved from tribal communities to nation-states, multinational enterprises and multilateral institutions (Leebaert, 2006; MacGregor Burns 1978).
 * Leaders and Leadership: a Perennial Challenge**

MARK J AHN STATES THAT Stories depicting the heroic traits and human flaws of the “good King” have created enduring characters in Western Epic traditions like the Odyssey and the Aeneid.

Ahn states that “ Achilles of Homer's Iliad ...displayed immortal heroism and creativity, despite a fatal flaw”.

According to Mary van Rossen in her exploration of Ahn's work, so Oral and written Epics have been a medium for writers and story tellers to explore ideas about leadership in their societies and what it meant in terms of acceptable and unacceptable characteristics. These acceptable and unacceptable characteristics would be determined by their actions, motives, values and virtues and relationship with the gods. (vanRossen, The Aeneid and Leadership, wikispace, October 2013).

Ahn explores Virgil's (70-19 BCE) Latin epic poem the Aeneid from a values-based leadership perspective in its original context as one of Rome's foundation myths. He looks at whether it is relevant to today's modern leadership.

Ahn says that the Aeneid was originally written to “enhance the political legitimacy of the Augustan Regime “ but that it was also aimed to extol or TALK ABOUT and GLORIFY the values-based leadership”. This values-based leadership and the skills of leadership are demonstrated and expected (by the Romans) because of their mos maiorum traditional values and virtues. This means that Aeneas displayed the values-based leadership that was captured and part of Roman traditional social norms and values. Eg Pietas – which is reasoned judgement and performance of one's duties towards followers and family and the gods.

Ahn states that Roman values were believed to be critical for “peace, prosperity and [the] effectiveness of Roman imperium (leadership at the top)”. He quotes Earl, 1967 and Edwards, 1960 and Galinsky, 1996 and Holland, 2004.

The Aeneid also lays out the values and conventions and makes clear that a good Roman leader must be heroic enough to stick with these values. That a Roman leader was expected, by the Roman society displayed in the Aeneid, to be “vigorous [in their ] vigilant interrogation and [self] reflective scrutiny” (Toll, 1997).

Virgil wrote his epic in the wake (at the end of) a century of political and social turmoil. Three generations of civil strife ended with the Battle of Actium in 31 BC when Octavian – called Augustus from 27 BCE – began to dominate political and therefore social – affairs at Rome. He set about reorganising and refurbishing the war torn Roman world.
 * The Context [times] of the Aeneid**

Ahn states that “ Augustus needed a cohesive [strong, well stuck together] world view to remind the Roman people [that he was now leader of] of their past triumphs and [their Roman values and] traditions. He says that Augustus wanted his people to be reminded of - or convinced of – the great Roman destiny or fatum. Ahn says that this was what was channelled through the written text of the Aeneid as Virgil told his epic.

CICERO stated that “a people is not a collection of human peoples brought together in a certain way, but an assemblage of people in large numbers associated in an agreement with respect to justice [the laws of the society] and a partnership for the common good [all on the same page as far as values-based actions and decisions that help a nation of people]”.

Ahn says that Virgil managed to capture this common worldview in his Aeneid and that Virgil was also therefore making a public declaration that he believed in the value of what Augustus was doing to/for Rome at the time he wrote his epic.

The Aeneid from a Leadership Lens

Virgil gives Aeneas human qualities. He portrays him as a heroic yet flawed motal man who overcomes his doubts and setbacks to ultimately realize his fate. [founding the nation of the Roman people].

Virgil uses the medium of the EPIC to depict Aeneas as a leader who transforms from “an indecisive, self-doubting victim of circumstances (ie literally driven from one thing to another, well illustrated in his diversion to Carthage and his soul-searching emotional decisions as to whether or not he should remain with Dido) into a supremely confident, charismatic leader who selflessly risks single combat with Turnus to spare others suffering.”

Ahn states that Aeneas's leadership effectiveness grows greater as his responsibilities grow. He quotes Dudly, 1961 who states that Aeneas “comes in the end to accept freely the terrible burden placed on him by destiny; and who at last shakes off the Trojan past to face the Roman future.”

Ahn states that Aeneas' gravitas and dignitas – his public and private integrity – suffered severe setbacks early in the epic poem, but his virtus and pietas allow him to align with the will of fate, and the will of Jupiter, to fulfil his destiny.

Ahn quotes MacKay, 1963 to write: “ Virgil's comment on the human condition: that great leaders are necessary, but that they have a bit of the scoundrel in them. [Virgil ] can appreciate [a great leader's]admirable qualities without shutting [his] eyes to their unlovable qualitiies. [Virgil] is not sentimental enough to make [a great leader's] failings lovable failings. WE are meant to be shocked – shocked into opening our eyes [to know how good leaders should behave and what behaviour the ordinary Roman should also follow as he goes through life, interacting with people and events.]”

Aeneas's humanity and his struggle make his character accessible to those reading about him. Aneas's humanity and his struggle make his character timeless. His audience, both the ancient Roman contemporary and the modern reader, go on a journey with him as he transforms. Those reading about the decisions and thoughts of Aeneas are forced to examine their own actions and decisions.

Ahn quotes Bloom, 2002 to note that Emperor Augustus needed the poem because it gave his era [his rule at the time] an idea of order and greatness [in the minds of the reader]. Bloom thinks that Virgil's epic created the foundation of authority for Augustus. Aeneas always looked towards the future, to the rise of a new Troy in Rome, which wll end [the Trojan's]exile and inaugurate [ bring in] justice [law].

CICERO believed that “virtue exists in man and God alike. ...Virtue ...is nothing else than Nature perfected and developed to its highest point... it is a likeness between man an God.” In this way a good Roman leader should- would be expected to have – virtuous aspects of the Roman gods. Aeneas is related to the gods. He is Venus's son.

Does Aeneas vitues/values-based leadership style even matter when FATE HAS ALREADY SAID THAT HE IS GOING TO FOUND THE ROMAN STATE? Ahn quotes Tracy, 1964 :” What gives fate its formidable aspect [in the Aeneid] is ...its inscrutability [it is simply going to happen – no argument!]. He quotes Coleman, 1982 when he says: “men may come to harm through ignorance, neglect or contempt of the divine plan there there is no place for supplications or placatory offerings [begging to make it turn out differently].

Ahn believes that Virgil had his epic become a “genuine [public speech in favour of] the religious reforms of Augustus ...and that neglect of these gods was at least one explanation for the wars of republican Rome.”

Virgil's Epic links the Roman ancient virtue of piety with the ancient historical mythology of an heroic golden age which is being reinvigorated/reinstated by Augustus. Romans were encouraged to think of themselves as descendants of Troy [and prior to this ancient Italy] and therefore it is their right and responsibility to concquer and lead world civilisation.

Aneas still has to perform as the ideal leader in order to succeed in the poem, despite the overarching role of destiny in the poem's (and history's) ultimate conclusion. He must be capable of being an heroic leader because FATE CHOSE AENEAS.

Aeneas and Augustus are connected by Virgil's epic. Their success becomes inevitably founded on their own perfect virtuous values-based leadership qualities. Their success is a self-fulfilling destiny. FATE CHOSE THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LEADERSHIP ABILITY.

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP Leadership over human beings is exercised when persons with certain motives and purposes moblise, in competition or conflict with others, institutional, political, psychological, and other resources so as to arouse, engage,and satisfy the needs of followers.

__Values-based leadership is defined as__ the moral foundation underlying stewardship [care] decisions and actions of leaders. Good leadership can be morrally good or technically good or effective.

The Aeneid explores the role of leaders in pursuing selfish personal happiness versus virtuous civic responsibiltiy which is exactly the opposite to the way leadership is explored/depicted in The Odyssey. In the Odyssey, all the followers perish. The narrative is from the perspective of one man versus all as apposed to the Aeneid where Aeneas is the leader of all the exiled Trojans for one great purpose.

Aneas is human enough to be tempted...but ...he does not fall. (Hahn, 1931) Well, at least not for long. He steps out of furor and passion to get back on track. Odysseus is tempted – apparently because he is bewitched – and he gets back on track. It is not either passion or duty for Odysseus but AND. There is no judgement by Homer's contemporary audience about Odysseus's liaisons with women other than his wife. These are just episodes which prolong his journey. We feel sorry for Odysseus that it is taking all that time. Aeneas – because of the accepted Roman virtues/values has to make choices to step away from passion to carry out his duty. It was not one of Odysseus's duties tto not have liaisons with other women. Faithfulness was something that was expected of women not Odysseus. Dido feels guilty for not remaining faithful to a dead husband. Aeneas is made to feel guilty about not remaining faithful to his task.

The development of Aeneas's virtus and his ability to remain piously on track creates the tension around good leadership that resonates to the challenges of modern leadership. The ability to govern, to build a good society which balances the necessity of tension between liberty, equality, community and effienciency is still a topic of study and matches the concerns of ancient Romans as the tried to keep pietas, virtus. Aeneas' steadfast vision to found a new homeland (the future Rome) and create an opportunity for peace and prosperity – just as Augustus was – while overcoming a series of obstacles and making great personal sacrifices is already made clear in Book 1.

“A man apart, devoted to his mission/ To undergo so many perilous days/ and enter so many trials ...For years/ they wandered as their destiny drove them on/ FRom one sea to the next: so hard and huge/ a task that was to found the Roman people.”


 * Aeneas demonstrates the excellent leadership quality of vision.** Vision requires imagination, couragtge and resilieince precisely because it is an envisioned future and requires change from the status quo.


 * Aeneas demonstrates that he was meant to depict a “good Roman”. According to Morwood, 1991, Aeneas's Rome does not exist, but evens so he has to show what it is like to be Roman. He needs to display dogged selfless endurance...Rome is not a real city of bricks and mortar [at this stage] but a state of mind.” It could also be said that Augustus's Rome, including its bricks and mortar, needed fixing up! That what Virgil and Augustus were portraying and creating were both Rome as a state of mind.**


 * Taking Rome as a state of mind and creating a great nation requires maximum effort and stoic virtus.**


 * Bell, 1999 states that The Aeneid “not only helped to cast Augustus's seemingly inevitable power as HEROIC but also to make that HEROIC POWER [understandable by Virgil's contemporaries]”**


 * Ahn states that the roles of Aeneas and Augustus were depicted by Virgil to be the same: two heroic leaders - positioned at the opposite poles of the fated trajectory of the national history. Further this heroic leadership was Fated to come about and enabled by Jupiter.** Ahn states that “from the fall of Troy to the founding of Rome and the promise of an empire without end as Jupiter ordained their fatum. Jupiter was to “call by his own name his people Romans/ For these I set no limites, world or time/ But make the gift of empire without end (Book 1).
 * This can be compared to Augustus and what he writes about himself in the Res Gestae. He emphasises that his political actions were wholly consistent with traditional Roman values which, if adhered to, would provide the basis for sustainable imperial growth and prosperity: “By the passage of new laws I restored many tranditions of our ancestors which were then falling into disuse, and I myself set precedents in many things for posterity (the future) to imitate.” Ahn points out that a critical aspect of Augustuan policy was shaping culture and behavioural norms and avoiding dangerous practices that could undermine social stability.**


 * Aneas's leaderhsip uses symbolism and ritual to create a cohesive organisational culture and are used extensively throughout the Aeneid to invoke images such as Augustus as leader, religious piety, sympolic works of art and the relentless march of Roman history. This is demonstrated by the powerful symbol found in the Aeneid that is Vulcan's [a god] shield given to Aeneas by his mother vVenus.**The battle on the shield [Actium] symbolises the values of Augustan leadership set against the chaos of Antony and Cleopatra's forces. It makes Augustan look like the “world leader” that he seemed after winning this battle and bringing Egypt into the Roman world. The shield shows a vision of order, of virtue and steady leadership under one man. When Aeneas lifts his shield, he takes upon himself the responsibility for the glory and destiny of his descendants. Dramatic Irony in epic poetry [the audience knows something the characters don't] gives Aeneas leadership a humbleness which would be endearing to the gods and to Roman society at the time. Virgil writes that “all these images on Vulcan's shield/His mother's gift, were wonders to Aeneas/knowing nothing of the events themselves/He felt joy in their pictures,taking up /upon his shoulder all the destined acts/ and fame of his descendants (Book VIII).

Values-based leadership is defined as the moral foundtion underlying stewardship decisions and actions of leaders. Aeneas struggles with private happiness and public service and his values are forged and strengthened. Aeneas is transformed by his challenges – and by prompts from the gods – from a Homeric hero to a Roman Stoic ideal leader. After his descent to Hades, Aeneas has complete knowledge of the future and true virtue according to the view of STOIC PHILOSOPHY which reckons that virtue is the result of knowledge. CICERO WOULD AGREE. HE SAID “ THAT VIRTUE HERSELF, BY HER OWN CHARMS, SHOULD LEAD YOU ON TO TRUE GLORY”.
 * Values-based leadership and Aeneas.**

The Roman leader should be stoic – tough and able to stay on task when things get difficult. Stoic also meaning in search of and valuing truth.


 * As Aeneas realises the responsibility of mission and values, he is continuously elevated – made to appear more virtuous – throughout the epic.**


 * Ahn quotes Miller who states that Aeneas must have been meant to represent an heroic leader because “a great cause needs a great leader. And while Aeneas is always to Virgil the perfect hero and shines as the patiently all-enduring one, the matchless warrior, the merciful conqueror, the wise and fatherly ruler, his greatest role is that in which the port first introduces him: the man of fatih, who believes implicity in his destiny, who constantly seeks ...divine guidance. [pietas and Roman Stoic truth and tenacity]”.**


 * But the Roman Leader that is presented in the Aeneid is not woodenly moralistic and we have been led to be understanding towards our hero with his great emotional pressures and changing duties. But his actions out of furor at the end of the poem – killing Turnus cannot escape moral scrutiny.**


 * The Roman Imperium [leadership or governance] was meant to be able to adhere unwaveringly to the idea of a controlled life, subject not to this or that individual, but to a system embodying the principles of justice and fair dealing. Was Aeneas fair to Turnus? If you put the greater good of Rome and its foundation ahead of the treatment of an enemy, then Aeneas made a decision that ensured that he would be the only leader of a new people in Italy. And we musn't forget that FATE CHOSE AENEAS WORTS AN ALL. FATE MAY HAVE BEEN DEPENDING ON THOSE WORTS.**


 * Poor leadership and Turnus –** in fact, Virgil highlights poor leadership through the hubris of Aeneas's protagonist Turnus who vows that by winning battle: “Turnus will rise?in fame to those high gods upon whose alters he makes the offering of his life.” But Turnus superbus or hubris in delighting in Pallas's death had already sealed his fate.


 * Effective leadership and the task of Rome as explained by Anchises is “to rule the people, but not simply to rule. More than that: to establish the ways of peace by sparing the humble and casting down the proud.”**


 * SO LEADERSHIP AND AENEAS? The Aeneid echoes an arching vision of the Roman imperium [power to command] which was rooted in the rule of the mos maiorum [traditional customs values and virtues. Ahn considers that because Aeneas leadership style was a values-based leadership style it was the kind that mankind still aspires to. And it would take a hero displaying virtus to remain steadfast and pious and not fall to individual desires and furor.**


 * Mostly Aeneas displayed integrity, good judgement, leadership by example, decision-making, trust, justice and faireness, humility and a sense of duty.**