People in the Odyssey

poseidon

god of the sea, earthquakes, and storms; odysseus' main divine antagonist, angry at him for blinding his son, polyphemus.

Athena

goddess of wisdom and war; Odysseus’ protector and guide, helping him throughout his journey

odysseus

the clever and resourceful hero of the odyssey, who struggles to return home to ithaca after the trojan war.

telemachus

odysseus' son, who matures throughout the odyssey as he searches for his father and stands up to the suitors.

polyphemus

a cyclops and son of poseidon; odysseus blinds him to escape captivity, angering poseidon.

tiresias

a blind prophet in the underworld who advises odysseus on his journey home.

homer

the legendary ancient greek poet traditionally credited with composing the iliad and the odyssey.

eurolochus

one of odysseus' crew members; often rebellious and disloyal, he convinces the men to eat helios’ sacred cattle.

eumaeus

royal swineherd in Ithaca who helps Odysseus reclaim his throne

laertes

odysseus’ father, who lives in isolation but later helps fight the suitors' families

scylla

a six-headed sea monster that devours sailors who pass too close to her cave

charybdis

a massive whirlpool that threatens to swallow Odysseus' ship.

antinous

the most arrogant and aggressive of Penelope’s suitors; he is the first to be killed by Odysseus.

eurynome

a servant in Odysseus' palace, sometimes depicted as loyal to Penelope

eurymachus

a deceitful and manipulative suitor who tries to avoid Odysseus' wrath but is killed

alcinous

king of the phaeacians; he provides odysseus with a ship to return home