Characters

= = Home

=**Characters**=

King of Ithaca, husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus,and son of Laertes and Anticelea, Odysseus is renowned for his guile and resourcefulness, and Cunning. He is well known for the Trojan War Horse trick. He tests his wife’s patience by disguising himself and telling her he saw Odysseus wearing garments she made for him to see if she cries.He is the protagnoist of the Odyssey.
 * Odysseus **-

** Telemachus **- Odysseus’s and Penelopes son. He is a dynamic character whose courage grows through Homers books. He was an infant when Odyssesus left for Troy, always an obstacle to Penelope’s suitors. ** Penelope **- Odysseus’ wife and also the Queen of Ithaca. She is known for her loyalty to her husband. Her suitors are Antinous, Amphinomus and Erurymachus. They courted her in the absence of her husband. **Laestrygonians** - They had an encounter with the Ithacans in the island of Lamos, their home. The giants ate many of Odysseus' men and destroyed eleven of his twelve ships the only surviving one was the ship Odysseus was on. **Sirens** - Usually portrayed as beautiful women. They lure sailors to their deaths with their voices. Odysseus is said to be the only person to hear their voices and survive. He had his crew tie him to the mast of their ship and leave his ears unplugged.

**Cicones** - The Cicones or Kikonians are native to the land of Ismarus, they were the first people Odysseus and his crew came across after leaving Troy. Odysseus and his men gave a surprise attack killed many of their men and took their women as slaves.Later reinforcements come and invade killing six men in each of the ships causing them to flee.

**Argos -** Argos in Greek means 'faithful dog'. When Odysseus comes back and disguises himself as a beggar, he sees his dog lying filthy on the ground. Argos immediately recognizes him, though the dog has no strength to greet him he wags his tail at his master and that shows the simplicity of their relationship. It leaves Odysseus a little emotional, seeing his faithful dog before he dies.

** Antinous ** - One of the most arrogant of Penelope's suitors. His lack of hospitality, a part of Greek culture and his greed prove to be a falling point for him. He attempts to kill Prince Telemachus, but his plans fail. He is the first of the suitors to be killed upon Odysseus' return. ** Eurymachus ** - The leader of the suitors, he is cunning and manipulative. After the death of Antinous he blames him for their wrong doings. He talked Penelope into thinking he had good intent. Like the other suitors, he shows no respect and is not hospitable.

** Amphinomus ** - Among the dozens of suitors, the only decent man seeking Penelope’s hand in marriage. Amphinomus sometimes speaks up for Odysseus and Telemachus, but he is killed like the rest of the suitors in the final fight. **Eumaeus** -The loyal shepherd who, along with the cowherd Philoetius, helps Odysseus reclaim his throne after his return to Ithaca. Even though he does not know that the vagabond who appears at his hut is Odysseus, Eumaeus gives the man food and shelter. **Eurycleia** -The aged and loyal servant who nursed Odysseus and Telemachus when they were babies. Eurycleia is well informed about palace intrigues and serves as confidante to her masters. She keeps Telemachus’s journey secret from Penelope, and she later keeps Odysseus’s identity a secret after she recognizes a scar on his leg. **Melanthius** - The brother of Melantho. Melanthius is a treacherous and opportunistic goatherd who supports the suitors, especially Eurymachus, and abuses the beggar who appears in Odysseus’s palace, not realizing that the man is Odysseus himself. **Melantho** - Sister of Melanthius and maidservant in Odysseus’s palace. Like her brother, Melantho abuses the beggar in the palace, not knowing that the man is Odysseus. She is having an affair with Eurymachus. **Calypso** - The beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus when he lands on her island-home of Ogygia. Calypso holds him prisoner there for seven years until Hermes, the messenger god, persuades her to let him go. **Polyphemus** - One of the Cyclopes (uncivilized one-eyed giants) whose island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy. Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his crew and tries to eat them, but Odysseus blinds him through a clever ruse and manages to escape. In doing so, however, Odysseus angers Polyphemus’s father, Poseidon. **Circe** - The beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus’s crew into swine when he lands on her island. With Hermes’ help, Odysseus resists Circe’s powers and then becomes her lover, living in luxury at her side for a year. **Laertes** - Odysseus’s aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca. In despair and physical decline, Laertes regains his spirit when Odysseus returns and eventually kills Antinous’s father.



**Lotus Eaters**- A race of people living on an island dominated by lotus plants. The lotus fruits and flowers were the primary food of the island and were narcotic, causing people to sleep in peaceful apathy. ** Tiresias ** - A Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld. He meets with Odysseus in the underworld and shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca. He allows Odysseus to communicate with the otther souls in Hades. ** Nestor ** - King of Pylos anf former warrior of Trojan War. He is a clever speaker. Telemachus visits him to ask about his father, but Nestor knows little of Odysseus, wherabouts. , ** Menelaus ** - King of Sparta, brother of Agememnon, and husband of Helen. He helped lead the Greeks in the Trojan War and he offers Telemachus assistance in finding Odysseus.

** Helen ** - Queen of Sparta and wife of Menelaus. Her abduction from Sparta helped spark the Trojan War. Her beauty is without parallel but she is critized for giving in to her Trojan captors. That therby, cost many Greeks their lives. She offers Telemachus assistance in his quest to find his father. ** Agamemnon ** - Former king of Mycenae and commander of the Achaean forces at Troy. Odysseus encounter Agamemnon spirit in Hades. He was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, upon his return from war. He was later avenged by his son Orestes. Their story is constantly repeated in the Odyssey to offer an inverted image of the fortunes of Odysseus and Telemachus. ** Nausicaa ** - The beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. She discovers Odysseus on the beach at Scheria and out of budding affection for him, ensures his warm reception at her parents' palace. ** Alcinous ** - The king of the Phaeacians, who offers Odysseus hospitality in his island kingdom of Scheria. He hears the story of Odysseus' wanderings and provides him with safe passage back to Ithaca. ** 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 Arete.