Forgotten characters in the Odyssey

Tireseus

Dead profit who Odysseus visits in the land of the dead. He gives Odysseus advice on how he can finally return home.

Eurycleia

An old female servant, still loyal to Odysseus

- first to see through Odysseus' disguise without him telling her

Antinous

The most arrogant of Penelope's suitors. Antinous leads the campaign to have Telemachus killed. Unlike the other suitors, he is never portrayed sympathetically, and he is the first to die when Odysseus returns.

Amphinomous

Among the dozens of suitors, the only decent man seeking Penelope's hand in marriage. He sometimes speaks up for Odysseus and Telemachus, but he is killed like the rest of the suitors in the final fight.

Arete

Queen of Phaeacians

Alcinous

King of the Phaeacians, to whom Odysseus tells his story

Nausicaa

The beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. Nausicaa discovers Odysseus on the beach at Scheria and, out of budding affection for him, ensures his warm reception at her parents' palace.

Demadocus

Sings about the battle between Odysseus and Achilles. The song moves Odysseus to tears.

Phemius

- Bard of Ithaca. He sings a sad song about the Trojan War to the suitors of Penelope.

- Saved by Telemachus when Odysseus was killing the suitors

Polyphemus

The Cyclops who imprisoned Odysseus

Eumaeus

- A swineherd, an old and loyal servant to Odysseus.

Melantho

Sister of Melanthius and maidservant in Odysseus's palace. Like her brother, Melantho abuses the beggar in the palace, not knowing that the man is Odysseus. She is having an affair with Eurymachus.

Eurymachus (two)

1. Member of Odyseus' crew who often disagrees with him/speaks up

2. Suitor, having an affair with Melantho

Melanthius

The brother of Melantho. Melanthius is a treacherous and opportunistic goatherd who supports the suitors, especially Eurymachus, and abuses the beggar who appears in Odysseus's palace, not realizing that the man is Odysseus himself.

Mentes

- One of Athene's disguises

- A king.

- She ensures Telemachus that Odysseys is safe through this disguise

Laertes

Odysseus's aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca. In despair and physical decline, Laertes regains his spirit when Odysseus returns and eventually kills Antinous's father.

Anticlea

Odysseus' mother who dies from heartbreak awaiting Odysseus' return.

Agamemnon

King who led the Greeks during the Trojan war.

Warns Odysseus of his own unfaithful wife (Clytemnestra), and says he should be cautious when it comes to Penelope

Ino

Ino, also known as Leucothea, helps Odysseus by offering him a magical veil, which would prevent him from coming to harm in the sea before he reached the Phaecian shore.

Aeolus

God of winds; gives Odysseus bag of wind

Scylla

Six dog headed sea monster who devours sailors

Charybdis

a dangerous whirlpool personified as a female sea monster

Irus (Arnaeus)

An Ithacan beggar.

Insulted Odysseus and challenged him to a fight. Odysseus won.

Philoetius

Cowherd, loyal to Odysseus and helps him kill the suitors

Halitherses

A prophet who correctly prophecies that the two eagles tearing each other to pieces is an omen of the suitors coming destruction. However, the suitors mock him and do not listen.