In the twelfth book of the Aeneid, Aeneas is wounded by an arrow and, brought back to the Trojan camp, healed by Iapyx with Venus' help In creating this episode, Virgil followed the Homeric models, the wounding of Menelaos (Il. 4) and the treatment by Patroclos of Eurypylos' wound (Il 11) He did not borrow motifs from the rescues of Aeneas (Il 5. by Aphrodite and Apollo ; Il 20・by Poseidon) because the acts of gods in these scenes are not in accordance with his usual method of giving the divine interventions natural appearances Venus intervenes 'indigno nati concussa dolove' (Aen 12 411) and 'with mother's care' plucks dittany stalk Similar concern is shown by Achates, Mnestheus and Ascanius, the major characters of the Trojan party, who surround sorrowfully the wounded hero Maternal, filial solicitude and that of comrades toward their leader focuses on Aeneas And in this connection, Iapyx the doctor is no less important. Virgil tells the story of his becoming a doctor, according to which Iapyx chose medical art to save his dying father when Apollo offered him the skills of augury, lyre and arrows. Thus he embodies true pietas and therefore recalls Aeneas' choice of his father rather than wealth on departure from burning Troy, though Virgil did not adopt this version of Aeneas-legend in his epic Iapyx now treats Aeneas in the crisis of the Trojans by his Apollo-given skill. Here also Aeneas benefits from an act of pietas When he recovered from his wound and pain, Aeneas armed himself hurriedly. This time it is Aeneas who shows pietas, for, before going to the battlefield he addresses his son Ascanius and declares that he will protect him and lead him to great rewards In short, Virgil cumulates the acts of pietas around the hero Aeneas in this episode
