The Odyssey: Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards based on key elements and characters from 'The Odyssey'.

Nekuia

The book of the dead; a journey to the underworld.

Elpenor

Odysseus’ crewmate who died and asked for proper burial.

Anticlea

Odysseus' mother who tells him not to grieve and to return to Ithaca.

Achilles

A Greek hero who bemoans his fate as a leader of dead.

Agamemnon

Greek king who was killed by his wife after the Trojan War.

Tiresias

Prophet in the underworld who provides guidance to Odysseus.

Sirens

Creatures that sing songs to lure sailors to their doom.

Xenia

The Greek concept of hospitality, providing for guests.

Charybdis

A dangerous whirlpool that swallows ships.

Scylla

A sea monster that devours Odysseus’ men.

Calypso

A nymph who keeps Odysseus on her island for seven years.

Phaeacians

People who help Odysseus return home after he washes ashore.

Nausicaa

The daughter of the Phaeacian king who helps Odysseus.

Telemachus

Odysseus’ son who grows into a young man while Odysseus is away.

Eumaeus

Odysseus’ loyal swineherd who aids him upon his return.

Argus

Odysseus' old dog who recognizes him after his long absence.

Penelope

Odysseus' loyal wife who waits for him and devises clever tests.

Funerary cloak

An item Penelope weaves and unwinds nightly to delay remarriage.

The bow contest

Test set by Penelope for the suitors to win her hand.

Euryclea

An old nurse who recognizes Odysseus by a scar.

Laertes

Odysseus' father, who he is reunited with at the end.

Tantalus

A figure in Greek mythology often associated with eternal punishment.

Psychopomps

In Greek mythology, beings like Hermes that escort souls to the afterlife.

Periphron

Describes Penelope as wary and resourceful.

Titanomachy

The battle between the Titans and the Olympian gods.

Cattle of the Sun

Helios’ sacred cattle that Odysseus' men kill, prompting Zeus' anger.

Odysseus' raft

The vessel he constructs to leave Calypso's island.

Sculptured bed

The immovable bed, a symbol of Odysseus and Penelope's union.

Zeus

The king of the gods, who punishes Odysseus' crew for defying the gods.

Amphitrite

The goddess of the sea and wife of Poseidon who punishes Scylla.

Eagle and geese dream

A complex dream of Penelope symbolizing the return of Odysseus.

Hades

The underworld where souls go after death.

Xerxes

Another Greek figure often conflated with wealth and power.

Hymn of Demeter

An ancient hymn reflecting on the relationship between gods and mortals.

Odyssey

The epic poem recounting Odysseus' long journey home.

Circe

A goddess who turned Odysseus' men into animals.

Troy

The city that was besieged in the Trojan War.

Homer

The ancient Greek poet traditionally said to be the author of the Odyssey.

Aphrodite

The goddess of love and beauty, often compared to Penelope.

Ogygia

The island where Calypso lives.

Planctae

Wandering rocks that pose a danger to sailors.

Titan daughters

Reference to powerful female figures in Greek mythology, like Calypso.

Odyssean journey

A journey filled with trials and challenges leading to self-discovery.

Ambrosia

Food of the gods granting immortality.

Fate of the suitors

The consequences faced by those who wronged Odysseus.

Divine intervention

Involvement of the gods in mortal affairs, often aiding or hindering.