(Humanities) Characters that were referenced to or in the Odyssey

Odysseus
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Terms in this set (46)
Odysseus
The protagonist of the Odyssey. He is a famous Greek warrior known for his cunning.
Telemachus
Odysseus's son. He often lacks the confidence to do brave things but matured in the course of the book.
Penelope
Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. She is clever and loyal to her husband.
Athena
Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, purposeful battle, and the womanly arts. She is the goddess that drove much of the plot in the Odyssey.
Poseidon
God of the sea. He was a divine antagonist to Odysseus in the book because Odysseus wronged him by blinding his son, the Cyclops.
Zeus
King of gods and men, who mediates the disputes of the gods on Mount Olympus.
Antinous
The most arrogant of Penelope's suitors. He leads the campaign to have Telemachus killed. Unlike the other suitors, he is never portrayed sympathetically, and he is the first to die when Odysseus returns.
Eurymachus
A manipulative, deceitful suitor. His charisma and duplicity allow him to exert some influence over the other suitors.
Amphinomus
Among the dozens of suitors, the only decent man seeking Penelope's hand in marriage. He sometimes speaks up for Odysseus and Telemachus, but he is killed like the rest of the suitors when Odysseus returns.
Eumaeus
The loyal swineherd who helps Odysseus reclaim his throne after his return to Ithaca.
EurycleiaThe aged and loyal servant who nursed Odysseus and Telemachus when they were babies that kept Telemachus' voyage a secret.MelanthiusThe brother of Melantho. He is a treacherous and opportunistic goatherd who supports the suitors.MelanthoSister of Melanthius and maidservant in Odysseus's palace.CalypsoThe beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus when he lands on her island-home of Ogygia.PolyphemusOne of the Cyclopes (uncivilized one-eyed giants) whose island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy. He gets blinded by Odysseus.CirceThe beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus's crew into swine when he lands on her island. Odysseus resists her spell and becomes her lover for a year.LaertesOdysseus's aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca. In despair and physical decline, he regains his spirit when Odysseus returns and eventually kills Antinous's father.TiresiasA Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld. He meets Odysseus when Odysseus journeys to the underworld.NestorKing of Pylos and a former warrior in the Trojan War. Telemachus journeys to his palace to ask about his father's whereabouts.MenelausKing of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, and husband of Helen, he helped lead the Greeks in the Trojan War. He offers Telemachus assistance in his quest to find Odysseus when Telemachus visits him.HelenWife of Menelaus and queen of Sparta. Her abduction from Sparta by the Trojans sparked the Trojan War. She offers Telemachus assistance in his quest to find his father.AgamemnonFormer king of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, and commander of the Achaean forces at Troy. He advised Odysseus to not trust women when Odysseus encountered his soul in the underworld.Clytemnestrawife of Agamemnon. She made a plot to murder Agamemnon and succeededOrestesson of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. He was persuaded by Poseidon to avenge his father's death to kill his mother, but was then chased by the Furies for murdering a blood relative.Aegisthusthe king of Argos, cousin of Orestes, and lover of Clytemnestra. He was murdered by Orestes.NausicaaThe beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. She discovers Odysseus on the beach at Scheria and helps him.AlcinousKing of the Phaeacians, who offers Odysseus hospitality in his island kingdom of Scheria. He provides Odysseus with the vessels to sail back to Ithaca.AreteQueen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinous, and mother of Nausicaa. She is intelligent and influential.PhemiusBard in Odysseus' placeMentesAthena's disguise when she first meets TelemachusMentorAthena's disguise later on in the epic poemKing PriamKing of Troy during the Trojan War. His city was brought down by Odysseus and his men.Parisson of Priam. He eloped with Helen and caused the Trojan War. He also killed Achilles by shooting an arrow into his heel.Hectorbrother of Paris and son of Priam. He was the best warrior of Troy in the Trojan War.Achillesknown by many as the best Greek warrior in the Trojan War. Odysseus met him in the underworld where he told Odysseus how much he still wanted to be aliveArgosOdysseus' faithful dog that waited for Odysseus for 20 years to return from the Trojan War. After he finally saw his master, he fulfilled his greatest wish and died.PatroclusAchilles' best friend. He wore Achilles' armor into battle to raise the morale of Achilles' men because Achilles refused to fight at first in the Trojan War.AjaxGreek hero that suicided because he fought over Odysseus for Achilles' armor and didn't get itHeliosThe sun god that owned the island of the Sun with many cattle and sheep on it. Eurylochus convinced Odysseus' crew to kill one of the cattle for food, and made him angry.EurylochusA mutinous member of Odysseus' crew. He brought much trouble upon the crew and got killed by Zeus when a lightning bolt hit the ship.Scyllaa six-headed monster Odysseus and his crew encounter on their voyage.CharybdisA monster that swallows and regurgitates part of the sea three times a day.EupithesThe father of Antinous. After Odysseus killed all the suitors, he led family members of the suitors against Odysseus but was killed by Laertes in the process.ProteusThe "Old man of the sea" that can shapeshift into many forms including fire, water, and wild beasts to avoid being captured.PisistratusSon of Nestor. He becomes Telemachus' friend and helps him with the search for Odysseus.ElpenorA member of Odysseus' crew that died during their journey home. When Odysseus' went down to the underworld, this person's soul begged Odysseus to go back and bury him