Odyssey

Odysseus

Main protagonist, gone for near 20 years

Penelope

Odysseus’ loyal wife

Telemachus

Odysseus’ son, was gone for a year

Melantho

Unfaithful maiden

Eurycleia

Loyal, faithful maiden

Laertes

Father of Odysseus

Polyphemus

Cyclops, represents alter ego of Odysseus

Tiresias

Famous blind prophet from Thebes

Menelaus

King of Sparta, husband of Helen

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and battle strategy

Aegis

Athena’s shield which helps Odysseus at the Test of the Great Bow

Posideon

Father of Polyphemus, god of earthquakes and the sea, antagonist

Zeus

“King of the gods”, god of lightning

Charybdis

Creates giant whirlpools thrice a day

Scylla

VERY ugly, has six heads and tons of tentacles, takes a man for every head (six)

Calypso

Seductive goddess, Odysseus spends seven years with her

Ogygia

Calypso’s island

Circe

A witch, tells Odysseus prophecies, turns Odysseus’ men to swine

Aeaea

Circe’s island

Alcinous

King of the Phaecians

Perimedes

One of Odysseus’ loyal men/companions

Eurylochus

Odysseus’ man who convinced everyone else to slaughter the cattle

Thinakia

Isle of Helio’s cattle

Eumaeus

Loyal swineherd

Philoetius

Loyal cowherd

Argos

Odysseus’ loyal (dead) dog

Altinous

Most outspoken suitor/their leader

Eurymachus

Second leading suitor, like Altinous, suggests the suitors atone with gifts of oxen, bronze, and gold

Scheria

Land of the Phoecians

Beeves

Land with plentiful herds, Circe said not to raid here of bad would come

Cicones

Allies of the trojans who live at Ismarus, army who killed many of Odysseus’ men

Argives

Greeks who fought at Troy

Achaenas

General term for greeks in the story