«Ne saevi, magna sacerdos» : l’ethos della Sibilla virgiliana

The Cumaean Sibyl is one of the most interesting and enigmatic characters of Virgil’s Aeneid. The purpose of this article is to give an analysis of this particular figure of cult, who refers Apollo’s prophecies and takes Aeneas to the Underworld. The starting point of the study will be to explain the originality of Virgil’s Sibyl; although the prophets are very ancient characters and they have already appeared in Greek literature, the Sibyl of Aeneid’s sixth book is not strongly conditioned by them, because she is not only a simple prophet, but also a very important figure of cult blessed with a wonderful knowledge of Underworld. The Sibyl has the function of a priest and her instructions are essential for Aeneas in order to complete the mission in the best possible way. Placing the Sibyl in her context allows to understand her attitude and her behaviour; the poet succeeds in giving her a personality of her own, and she usually speaks sternly and abruptly because she is the guide of Aeneas, who has the purpose of meeting his father Anchises in the Elysium. The Sibyl shows authority and austerity when she speaks to other characters of Aeneid’s sixth book; for example, she rebukes Palinurus who wants to go across the Styx with them, and warns Aeneas that his time to reach the Elysium is short.