The opening line of the Aeneid in Latin is:
Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
This translates to, ‘I sing of arms and the man, who first from the shores of Troy.’ In this line, the poet Virgil introduces the central themes of the epic: the tumult of war and the journey of Aeneas, the protagonist, who escapes from Troy and embarks on an arduous quest to found a new homeland. The mention of ‘arms’ highlights the martial aspect of the story, while ‘the man’ refers to Aeneas, emphasizing his role as a hero. The Aeneid is constructed around these themes, and this compelling opening line sets the stage for the tale of adventure, struggle, and destiny that follows.