The Odyssey Books 1,2,5

Aegyptus

Member of the assembly who questions why Telemachus has called them together.

Antinous

The 'leader', or most vocal, of the suitors at Penelope's house.

Athena

The Goddess of Wisdom who really likes Odysseus and is trying to help him get back home… despite the fact that he has angered other gods.

Calypso

A nymph (part goddess) who lives on an amazing island in the ocean where Odysseus washes up. He stays with her for 7 years.

Eurycleia

Penelope's maidservant who has been with the family forever.

Eurymachus

One of the two leading suitors who often lies to people's faces.

Halitherses

soothsayer/prophet who tries to warn the suitors about what will happen to them.

Helen and Menelaus

King and Queen of Sparta. She is the cause of the Trojan War, which took Odysseus from his family. Telemachus visits him when looking for news of his father.

Hermes

Messenger god and guide of dead souls to the Underworld.

Ino

A sea goddess who helps Odysseus get to the shores of Scheria with her magical scarf.

Laertes

Odysseus' father.

Mentes

Traveler that Athena pretends to be to inspire Telemachus.

Mentor

A close friend of Odysseus's family in Ithaca. He is old and highly respected.

Muse

Daughter of Zeus- one of the nine presides over all literature and is "invoked" at the beginning of the epic poem by the bard.

Nestor

King of Pylos who Telemachus visits when looking for news about his father.

Odysseus

Main character (protagonist). War hero who angers Poseidon and must undergo a 10-year journey home after the Trojan War.

Orestes

Son of Agamemnon- avenger of his father.

Pallas

Epithet of Athena

Penelope

Odysseus's wife, queen of Ithaca. She's been without him for 20 years (10 during Trojan War, 10 while he was lost at sea). She's trying to fight off the suitors and raise their son.

Phaeacians

People of Scheria

Phemius

the bard (poet) in Ithaca.

Polyphemus

Cyclops son of Poseidon who is tricked by Odysseus.

Poseidon

God of the sea- tries to get revenge on Odysseus for the blinding of Polyphemus

Suitors

108 men who hope to marry Penelope and become king of Ithaca (since Odysseus seems to be dead). They are pressuring Penelope to choose between them, taking over the house/food… and are jealous of Telemachus who will soon be of age to take over the kingdom himself.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus and Penelope. He was a baby while Odysseus went to fight in the Trojan War. He doesn't remember his father, and is almost a full adult now. The suitors want to marry his mother before he comes of age to inherit the kingdom.

Zeus

Father of all gods and goddesses who tries to fairly mediate the fight between Odysseus and Poseidon.

Ithaca

Odysseus's home

Mount Olympus

Home to the gods and goddesses (except Hades)

Ogygia

Island home of Calypso

Scheria

island of the Phaeacians

Sparta/Pylos

where Telemachus goes at the beginning of the story in search of news about his father