On composition of simile chains in Virgil's “Aeneid”

A chain of similes understood as a literary technique is considered in the article. The author examines two types of chains: the first one is in the 5-th book of the “Aeneid” and consists of three similes: Dares attacking Entellus - someone besieging a city or a mountain fort (V, 439-442), Entellus falling down - a pine tree falling on Erymanthus or Ida (V, 446-449), Entellus flurry of blows on Dares - hail that hits roofs (V, 455-460). The second chain of similes is found in the 10-th book and consists of four similes: Mezen-tius surrounded by Tyrrhenians - a rock beaten by wind and waves (X, 693-696), foes that are afraid to approach Mezentius - hunters that are afraid of approachin a boar (X, 707-718), Mezentius -a lion, his foes -a goat / deer (X, 723-729), Mezentius - Orion (X, 763-768). The author analyzes composition peculiarities of both simile chains and points out to a variety of their models: in the 5-th book, Virgil prepares his readers for the finale by means of simile chains; in the 10-th book, the finale looks rather unexpected. Mezentius is presented as a ‘winner’ in all four similes; in the finale he is posed as a ‘victim’