The Odyssey: Key Characters and Mythological References

Polybos

Great nobleman in Egyptian Thebes

Deiphobus

Prince of Troy; Priam's son

Philomelendes

King of Lesbos who forced guests into wrestling matches killing the losers

Proteus

Old man of the sea; Immortal; Servant of Poseidon; Held by Menelaus

Thyestes

Father of Aigithos

Noemon

Ithaca nobleman who lends ship to Telemachos for journey to Pylos

Mendon

The Marshal; Tells Penelopia about where Telemachos is, and what suitors are planning to do to him

Dolios

Loyal elder servant/slave given by father as gift; Penelopia tells him to tell Laertes about suitors' plan

Iphthime

Penelopia's sister; Athena shapeshifts into her to talk to Penelopia

Queen Clytaminestra

Agamemnon's wife; Has affair with Aigithos; Helps kill her husband

Apollo

God of music, poetry and prophecy; Linked to the sun

Phrontis Onetorides

One of the helmsmen of Menelaus who died

Peisistratos

Nestor's son; A born leader; famous lancer; mentors Telemachos

Thrasymedes

Nestor's son

Euhephron

Nestor's son

Statrios

Nestor's son

Prince Thraymendes

Nestor's son

King Menelaos

King of Sparta; husband of Helen of Troy; Last to return from war; lives in Lacedaimon (Sparta); Brother of Agamemnon; Great friend of Odysseus

Diomedas

Received most direct divine help and protection

Myrmidons

Legendary people of Thessaly in Ancient Greece; Warriors who fought for Achilles during Trojan War

Philoctetes

Greek hero who had great skill as an archer in Trojan War; Had possession of Heracles' bow and arrow; Son of Poias

Idomeneus

Cretan King in Trojan War leading fleet of 80 ships

Aigisthos

Warned by the gods of his mistake: killed Agamemnon and had affair with his wife

Orestes

Son of Agamemnon; Killed Aigisthos

Laertes

Odysseus' dad; Won't come to town anymore

Icarios

Penelopeia's dad

Anchialos

Mentes' dad

Gallants

Pretenders, Hangers-on, Rabble of bullies, Would-be bridegrooms, Suitors

Antinoos

A suitor; Son of Eupeithes; Taunts Telemachos

Phemios

Plays/sings music for crowd

Eurycleia

Laertes' slave/servant, Telemachos' nanny

Alpheeios

River god

Atlas

Holds up the pillars that separate heaven and earth

The Spinner

The Fate who weaves life (and death)

Neoptolemus

Son of Achilles; Great warrior

Eteoneus

Loyal servant of King Menelaus

Odysseus

Hero in Trojan War; Being held captive by Calypso

Calypso

Holding Odysseus captive and wants to be his wife; Witch; Nymph; Beautiful

Zeus

Father of all gods and men; Cronides; Father King of Kings and Lord of Lords; Cloudgatherer; Olympian Zeus; Cronion

Athena

Zeus' favorite daughter who wants to help Odysseus, Tritogenia, 'Mentor', Sea Osprey

Poseidon

God of the sea who holds a grudge against Odysseus for blinding his son

Telemachos

Son of Odysseus and Penelopeia

Penelopia

Wife of Odysseus who will not let go of hope for her husband's return

Mentes

Athena disguised herself in order to come down to the real world and talk to Telemachos;Chief of Taphians

Hermes

Messenger of gods; Ariphontes

Polyphemos

Poseidon's son that Odysseus blinded

Halitheerses Mastorides

Great reader of omens; Soothsayer; Prophet

King Nestor

From Sandy Pylos; Was in war with Odysseus (friend); Old Cavalier; unaware of Odysseus' whereabouts

King Priam

Last King of Troy

Paris

Prince who kidnapped Helen

Helen

'Face that launched 1000 ships'; Began war because she was kidnapped

Aias

Man of war

Achilles

Hero of Trojan War; Known for strength and skill in battle; Mother dipped him into River Styx as a baby making him indestructible everywhere except his heel; the invincible

Patroclos

Prudent god of counsel

Antilochos

Nestor's son; Strong; Dead

Atreus

King of Mycenae; Father of Agamemnon

Agamemnon

Leading Achaean forces during Trojan war; King of Mycenae; Brother of Menelaus

Hera

Queen of Heaven; Zeus' wife

Helios-

Sun god who demands that Odysseus' ship be Sunken