Which author argues that Aeneas embodies Augustan political values and serves as a template for civic virtue?

• A. Fiachra Mac Gorain - Aeneas and Augustan values
• B. Richard Rutherford - Allecto and Turnus
• C. Damien Nelis - Structure of book 4
• D. Bob Cowan - Aeneas and Augustan values

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how readers link Aeneas to Augustan political values and view him as a model of civic virtue. The best answer is the author who explicitly argues that Aeneas embodies those Augustan ideals—pietas, duty to the city, self-control, and leadership for the sake of Rome—and that his actions provide a template for virtuous public conduct. This reading ties Vergil’s portrayal of Aeneas directly to the political program and moral ideals associated with Augustan Rome, showing how the epic functions as a moral and political model for citizens and leaders alike.

The other options don’t center this exact claim. One author analyzes Aeneas and Augustan values but aims at a related topic rather than presenting Aeneas as a universal template for civic virtue. The remaining choices focus on different aspects—one on a particular episode (Allecto and Turnus) and another on the formal structure of Book 4—topics that do not present Aeneas as the explicit blueprint for civic virtue in the Augustan context.