Key Characters and Events in The Odyssey

Circe

the sorceress who turns Odysseus' men into swine

Helios

protective of his prized golden cattle

Telemachus

Odysseus' loyal son who begins a journey to find news of his father

Polyphemus

the Cyclops who traps Odysseus and his men in his cave

Hermes

tells Odysseus about moly on Circe's island

Odysseus

the cunning Greek hero trying to return home to Ithaca

Penelope

fends off suitors on Ithaca

Eos

Dawn with fingertips of rose

Charybdis

a deadly whirlpool that threatens to swallow the entire ship

Alcinous

King of the Phaeacians who offers Odysseus hospitality and a ship home

Hermes

the messenger god who brings Zeus' order to free Odysseus

Poseidon

the god of the sea who punishes Odysseus for blinding his son

Calypso

the nymph who holds Odysseus captive on her island, Ogygia

Scylla

a six-headed sea monster who eats some of Odysseus' men

Tiresias

the blind prophet from the Underworld who gives Odysseus guidance

Elpenor

one of Odysseus' men who dies falling from Circe's roof and begs for burial

Polyphemus

once had a premonition that he would be blinded by Odysseus

Zeus

King of the gods who sometimes intervenes to aid or hurt Odysseus

Aeolus

gives Odysseus a bag of winds as a gift

Helios

threatens to take the sun down to the Underworld

Circe

sorceress with whom Odysseus and his men stay for one year

Penelope

single mother to Telemachus

Athena

the goddess of wisdom who helps Odysseus and Telemachus

Maron

gives Odysseus a very strong wine

Sirens

creatures whose singing lures sailors to their deaths