The king then escorted AEneas through the town, pointing out to him
many places, destined to be famous in later history, for on that very
ground Romulus built his city, and Pallanteum became the celebrated
Palatine Mount, one of the seven hills of Rome. When they reached the
royal palace, which was not as large or magnificent as palaces often
are, the king took pride in mentioning that the great Hercules,
honored in life, and after death worshipped as a god, had not
disdained to accept hospitality under its roof.

He spoke, and through the narrow door
The great AEneas led,
And heaped a couch upon the floor
With leaves and bear-skin spread.
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.

While the Trojan chief was being entertained by King Evander, his
mother Venus was much troubled in mind thinking of the danger which
threatened her son in his new settlement. She resolved that he should
have all the aid in her power to supply, and so she requested Vulcan
to make him a suit of armor. Vulcan was the god of smiths as well as
of fire, and Venus thus appealed to him in behalf of her son.

"While the Greeks were laboring to bring destruction on Troy," said
she to the fire god, who was also the god of smiths, "I did not ask
your help, knowing that the ruin of the city had been decreed by the
gods. But now AEneas has settled in Italy by Jupiter's command;
therefore, I beg your assistance. What I wish is that you should make
arms and armor for my son. Many nations have combined against him, and
are sharpening their swords for the destruction of himself and his
people."