In Greek and Roman mythology, Aeneas was a high-born Trojan warrior who survived the fall of Troy, safely exiting the city with his family and possessions. Throughout the ages, writers interpreted the character of Aeneas from different perspectives. In the 13th century, Guido delle Colonne, an Italian judge and author, wrote a narrative of the Trojan war suggesting that Aeneas betrayed Troy to the Greeks in exchange for safe passage from the city. Thise idea is reflected in the beginning of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.”
"On the morn when as every man knows God was born to die for us..."See in text(Fytte the Second)
The phrase alludes to the morning of Christmas day, the day when the birth of Jesus is celebrated. The reference to God’s having been born alludes to the Christian belief in the trinity, that God exists in three beings: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
"that Sire who on that very night was born of a lady to quell our pain..."See in text(Fytte the Second)
“Sire” is an allusion to Jesus Christ, and “born of a lady” refers to his mother, the Virgin Mary. “Quell” means to quiet or to stop. The passage depicts Jesus as having been born to save and comfort humankind.
"the five joys that the courteous Queen of Heaven had of her child..."See in text(Fytte the Second)
The Queen of Heaven and her child are allusions to the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ; in context, “courteous” means gracious and kind. Like the previous reference to “the five wounds that Christ received on the cross,” the passage illustrates the foundational relationship between knighthood and Christianity, as knights were sworn to protect the faith, as well as to protect their king.
"It is a sign that Solomon set formerly as a token of truth..."See in text(Fytte the Second)
The passage alludes to King Solomon, the third king of ancient Israel noted for his wisdom, who is credited with designing the pentangle; a pentangle on his ring was his royal seal.
“Zephyrus” is an allusion to the Greek god of the west wind. The ancient Greeks also considered Zephyrus one of the gods of spring, since winter ended with the arrival of gentle winds from the west.
The interjection alluding to St. Giles is unclear. It could refer to St. Giles the Abbot, a 6th-century monk, or to St. Giles of Assisi, a follower of St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. The allusion most likely refers to St. Giles of Assisi, who was especially known for his austerity and whom St. Francis called his “Knight of the Round Table.”
