References
- The expression comes from Virgil, Aeneid I: 10, insignem pietate virum, introducing the Romans' Trojan ancestor and moral exemplar pius Aeneas (cf. VI: 403). Near the end of the poem Jupiter promises Juno that she will see that the future race of mixed Trojans and Italians collectively supra homines, supra ire deos pietate, "surpass men and gods in pietas" (XII: 839). The poet himself, of course, may not approve of all that his troubling protagonist does in accordance with this characteristic virtue pietas.