Nisus and Euryalus at The Louvre, Paris

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Nisus and Euryalus are two warriors serving under Aeneas in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. Their mission behind enemy lines, as told in Book 9, showcases their stealth skills and combat prowess but ends in tragedy: Euryalus acquires a prized Rutulian helmet, which draws attention, and both die together. Virgil portrays their deaths as a loss of noble loyalty and bravery. Their friendship is also highlighted in Book 5 during the funeral games for Anchises, where Virgil notes their amor pius, a love that embodies the pietas that defines Aeneas's character. By describing the bond between Nisus and Euryalus, Virgil draws on conventions of erotic poetry, leading some to interpret their relationship as romantic. This is seen through the lens of Greek custom paiderastia. As survivors of the Trojan War, Nisus and Euryalus flee with Aeneas, who leads them. Nisus was born into a family that venerated the huntress-goddess on Mount Ida, where his father, Hyrtacus, taught him hunting skills. Euryalus, younger and trained as a fighter by his battle-hardened father Opheltes, speaks proudly of his heritage. Their journey takes them around the Mediterranean until they are destined to settle in Italy. Some Trojans, including matres ("mothers"), choose to stay in Sicily before the Italian war, but Euryalus's mother refuses to be separated from her son and continues on with Aeneas. Source: Wikipedia