Final answer:
Aeneas's role in Roman mythology bridges Troy's destruction and Rome's founding, linking Rome’s origins to both a heroic past and traditions of internal strife. His story as told in 'The Aeneid' by Virgil is crucial to Roman identity. However, archaeological evidence provides a deeper understanding of Rome's actual historical development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of Aeneas's role in the Trojan War and the founding of Rome is manifold in Roman mythology and history. As a Trojan hero, Aeneas is positioned within the mythological narrative as a survivor of the Trojan War, someone who undergoes a long and fabled journey leading to the establishment of Rome. This journey is chronicled in Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid, where Aeneas's trials and tribulations help to assert Rome's historical and cultural connection to the ancient city of Troy.
According to the foundation myths, Aeneas is not only a bridge to the Trojan past but also part of the violent beginnings that characterize Rome's early history. Unexpectedly, both Romulus, the founder of Rome who killed his brother Remus, and Aeneas, who killed his rival Turnus, are involved in foundational bloodshed. Roman historians used such foundation myths to underpin Rome’s lineage and justify its tendencies toward internal conflict and civil war.
While these myths contribute significantly to the Roman self-identity and veneration of their ancestors and cultural values, archaeological findings along with broader historical records provide richer insights into Rome’s actual past. The city was inhabited since the mid-eighth century BCE and witnessed shifts from autonomous villages to a federated landscape of the Seven Hills, reflected in historical events like the expulsion of the Etruscans and the establishment of the republic.