Palinurus

Palinurus (Greek Παλίνουρος ) is a figure from Roman mythology. Palinurus is the reliable and prudent helmsman of Aeneas on his odyssey from the ruined Troy to Italy.

In the fifth book of the Aeneid, Aeneas his target is already close to Venus, mother of Aeneas turns to the sea god Neptune to ask him for safe journey for her son. Neptune calms her down, only a man of the crew of Aeneas 'll still come by sea to harm a victim for many. A little later shows that it is Palinurus: Somnus, god of sleep, laid over him, and despite initial resistance, it may reduce him to sleep. Asleep Palinurus falls overboard.

Of his subsequent fate learns Aeneas (and with him the reader ) during the descent into the Underworld in the sixth book, where he again sees him among those without Excavated: Palinurus drove three days on the entrained rowing across the sea and eventually ran aground on the coast of Lucania. As soon as he thought he was saved, he was slain by the inhabitants of the area. The Sibyl promises him, a neighboring people would bury him and build him a cult.

According to ancient sources the promontory of Cape Palinuro in the Cilento is named after him.