On book VIII or the Shield of Aeneas

I cannot help but thinking about the shield of Achilles and the shield of Heracles as I read about
Aeneas shield. There is another epic poem, Shield of Heracles, which is said to be composed
by Hesiod, describing Heracles shield, and whose description of the shield Virgil alludes to. In
Shield of Heracles, the shields orb shimmered with electrum, and it glowed with shining
gold Aeneas shield is repeatedly described with a similar effect: there, too, all silver,
through arcade of gold (l. 655). This is not the first time reference to Heracles is made. To
me, it seems that by referring to Heracles, Virgil is making a parallel between Heracles and
Aeneas (both are sons of god/goddess and directly related to Zeus/Jupiter), and since Augustus is
the descendent of Aeneas, he can also be seen as a descendent of the god. Perhaps this is another
way of supporting the legitimacy of Augustus rule?
Of course, the resemblance between Aeneas shield and that of Achilles is even more apparent:
both are made by Hephaestus/Vulcan, both are described in detailed regarding how the shield is
made and what stories are inscribed on the shield, and both are delivered to the heroes by their
respective mothers (which is an interesting factwhy a mother?)
Achilles shield draws out the painful contrast between war and peace. Aeneas shield, quite
similarly, with the scene of the Battle of Actium, seems to remind us that while the Roman
triumph is something worth celebrating, we must not forget that such triumph only comes after
the violence of war.
Despite many similarities between the shields, Aeneas reaction is different from Achilles when
they receive their shields. While the former admires his shield, the latter feels mainly anger
(Achilles does appreciate the work of the god but this feeling is superseded by his anger and

eagerness to do battle). Aeneas does not/is unable to fully appreciate what is inscribed on his
shield because many of the stories will happen in the future. I think that is why he can feel such
joy. Achilles, however, is heavily reminded by the loss of his friend, and the juxtaposition of war
against peace on the shield only further reminds him of the need to fight, and his own tragic fate.