A long epic follows a pious exile who, after his city's destruction, undertakes a divinely guided voyage toward a foretold homeland. The narrative combines sea voyages, a tragic romance in a foreign court, a descent into the underworld that reveals future destinies, and strenuous warfare upon arrival. Persistent themes include duty versus desire, the force of fate, and the influence of gods on human choices. The poem's structure contrasts reflective, elegiac passages with dramatic battle scenes and culminates in a decisive struggle over the right to establish a new civic order.