The Odyssey: Major People and Episodes

Penelope

Penelope

Wife of Odysseus, Mother of Telemachus

Telemachus

Odysseus' son and obstacle to the suitors. Takes care of Penelope

Eurclyeia

The aged and loyal servant who nursed Odysseus and Telemachus when they were babies.

Phaecians

People of king alcinous, odysseus is telling his story to them

King Alcinous

king (of Phaeacia) who gives Odysseus a ship so he can go home to Ithaca

Queen Arete

Queen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinous, and mother of Nausicaa. She is intelligent and influential. Nausicaa tells Odysseus to make his appeal for assistance to her

Nausicaa

Daughter of Arete and Alcinous.

She discovers Odysseus on the beach at Scheria and brings him into the palace.

Scheria

Island of the Phaeacians

Eumaeus

A swineherd, an old and loyal servant to Odysseus

Argus

Odysseus' old hunting dog

Calypso

The beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus and holds him captive for 7 years.

Scylla

6 headed monster Represents the monsters of the sea

Charybdis

enormous and dangerous whirlpool monster Represents unknowns of the sea

Sirens

creatures, part woman and part bird, whose songs lure sailors to their death

Elpenor

Youngest member of Odysseus' crew. The morning of their departure from Circe's island, he falls from the rooftop and dies.

Tiresias

blind prophet who advised Odysseus

Agamemnon

Killed by his wife and her side piece.

Orestes

son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra who eventually avenged his father's murder by killing Aegisthus

Clytemnestra

Wife and cheater of Agamemnon. Was later killed by her own son as revenge.

Eurylochus

Second-Command on Odysseus' ship, however stirs up problems and tries to get the men to stray from Odysseus' leadership several times.

Circe

The beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus's crew into swine when he lands on her island. She sleeps with odysseus for a year.

Aeolus

King of the winds

Cicones

Citizens of Thrace, allies of Troy; Odysseus and his men raid Thrace after they leave Troy.

Island of Ismarus

the FIRST place that Odysseus went to after leaving Troy.

Cyclops

one eyed giant, sons of poseidon

Lotus Eaters

people who feed Odysseus's men lotus plants (weed) to make them forget Ithaca