How did the Aeneid influence John Milton’s Paradise Lost?

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Ancient Roman mosaic showing the poet Virgil seated and writing, flanked by the muses Clio and Melpomene, displayed in a decorative border. — Virgil Virgil (centre) holding a scroll with a quotation from the *Aeneid* and flanked by the muses Clio and Melpomene, mosaic, early 3rd century ce; in the Bardo National Museum, Tunis, Tunisia.

John Milton’s Paradise Lost was significantly influenced by the Classical epic tradition, specifically the conventions established by Virgil in The Aeneid. Milton adapted these structural and stylistic elements to create a biblical epic in English.1

Key influences include:

Epic Conventions: Milton adopted the practice of beginning in medias res (in the middle of things) and invoking a muse, though he replaced the traditional pagan muse with the Judaeo-Christian Godhead.1
Grand Style and Meter: Milton utilized blank verse—unrhymed iambic pentameter—which he explicitly modeled after the meter used by Virgil in Latin and Homer in Greek.1
Literary Devices: He employed protracted epic similes and incorporated the traditional motif of a descent into the underworld, adapting the Classical depiction of a fiery, dark abyss to fit his Christian narrative.1
Heroism: While Milton’s characterization of Satan reflects traits of Classical heroes like Aeneas, he used these parallels to contrast them with "Christian heroism." He sought to debunk the pride and vainglory associated with Classical protagonists, instead extolling the meekness and self-sacrificing love of the Son.1