In the Aeneid, Virgil tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who escaped the sack of Troy by the Greeks. After a long journey and many adventures, he eventually arrives in Italy and establishes a new city, destined to become the great city of Rome.
Virgil's poem thus created a lineage between Rome and Troy, making Rome a successor to the legendary Trojan civilization. This link was important for establishing Rome's identity and history, as it connected the Romans to a powerful and noble past.