Aeneas was a Trojan hero in Greek mythology, son of the prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite. He is more extensively mentioned in Roman mythology, and is seen as an ancestor of Remus and Romulus, founders of Rome. In the Iliad, Aeneas was the leader of the Trojan Dardanians, and the main lieutenant of Hector. Aphrodite protected him throughout the war, and was also helped by Apollo, and even Poseidon who normally favoured the Greeks.