Character guide

Jove

major

Also known as Jupiter, almighty Jove

King of the gods, frequently intervenes in mortal affairs and transformations.

Perseus

major

Also known as young Perseus, the brave Perseus

Hero who slays Medusa and rescues Andromeda from a sea monster.

Apollo

major

Also known as Phoebus, great Apollo, Actian Phoebus

God of prophecy, music, and healing; pursues Daphne and slays Python.

Juno

major

Also known as the jealous Juno, Imperial Juno

Queen of the gods, often vengeful toward Jupiter's mortal lovers.

Ulysses

major

Also known as the wise Ulysses

Cunning Greek hero who contends for Achilles' armor and voyages home.

Minerva

major

Also known as Pallas

Goddess of wisdom, patron of crafts, and rival of Arachne.

Achilles

major

Also known as fierce Achilles, Divine Achilles

Greatest Greek warrior at Troy, slain by Paris's arrow.

Diana

major

Also known as stern Diana, Cynthia

Goddess of the hunt, transforms Actaeon into a stag.

Orpheus

major

Legendary musician who descends to Hades for Eurydice.

Aeneas

major

Also known as good Aeneas

Trojan hero who voyages to Italy and becomes ancestor of Rome.

Cadmus

supporting

Founder of Thebes who sows dragon's teeth and is turned into a serpent.

Medea

supporting

Also known as Youth Medea

Sorceress who helps Jason and later murders her own children.

Theseus

supporting

Also known as hardship gallant Theseus

Athenian hero who battles the Minotaur and Centaurs.

Hector

supporting

Also known as noble Hector

Trojan prince and warrior slain by Achilles.

Ajax

supporting

Also known as dull Ajax, Ajax Telamon

Greek hero who competes for Achilles' armor and kills himself.

Ceres

supporting

Also known as First Ceres

Goddess of agriculture who searches for her daughter Proserpine.

Neptune

supporting

Also known as Stern Neptune, Pleased Neptune

God of the sea, often intervenes in mortal voyages.

Bacchus

supporting

Also known as Trees Bacchus

God of wine who transforms pirates into dolphins.

Venus

supporting

Also known as Cytherea

Goddess of love, mother of Aeneas and patron of Julius Caesar.

Mercury

supporting

Also known as Hermes, The trusty Hermes

Messenger god who slays Argus and guides souls.

Mars

supporting

Also known as warrior Mars

God of war, father of Romulus.

Pluto

supporting

Also known as grim Pluto

God of the underworld who abducts Proserpine.

Proserpine

supporting

Also known as young Proserpine

Daughter of Ceres, queen of the underworld.

Hercules

supporting

Also known as Alcides, Hercules Achelous

Legendary hero who performs twelve labors and dies by poison.

Jason

supporting

Also known as another Jason

Leader of the Argonauts who seeks the Golden Fleece.

Daedalus

supporting

Master craftsman who builds the Labyrinth and wax wings.

Icarus

supporting

Also known as young Icarus

Son of Daedalus who flies too close to the sun and falls.

Narcissus

supporting

Also known as A handsome youth , named Narcissus

Beautiful youth who falls in love with his own reflection.

Echo

supporting

Also known as the sad Echo

Nymph who pines for Narcissus and fades to a voice.

Pyramus

supporting

Also known as young Pyramus

Babylonian lover who kills himself for Thisbe.

Thisbe

supporting

Also known as Meantime poor Thisbe

Lover of Pyramus who dies by his sword.

Arachne

supporting

Also known as poor Arachne, a Spider Arachne

Mortal weaver who challenges Minerva and is turned into a spider.

Niobe

supporting

Also known as proud Niobe

Queen who boasts of her children and is turned to stone.

Philomela

supporting

Also known as Procne

Sister of Procne who is transformed into a nightingale after tragedy.

Tereus

supporting

Also known as O Tereus

Thracian king who rapes Philomela and is turned into a hoopoe.

Medusa

supporting

Also known as dire Medusa

Gorgon whose gaze turns men to stone, slain by Perseus.

Andromeda

supporting

Princess rescued from a sea monster by Perseus.

Atlas

supporting

Titan who holds up the sky, turned into a mountain by Perseus.

Midas

supporting

Also known as King Midas

King who turns everything to gold and later grows ass's ears.

Ceyx

supporting

King who drowns at sea and is reunited with Alcyone as birds.

Alcyone

supporting

Also known as Meantime Alcyone

Wife of Ceyx who becomes a kingfisher after his death.

Caeneus

supporting

Also known as Already Caeneus, not Caeneus

Lapith warrior who was born female and becomes invulnerable.

Polyphemus

supporting

Cyclops who loves Galatea and kills Acis.

Galatea

supporting

Also known as Galatea Galatea

Sea nymph loved by Polyphemus and Acis.

Glaucus

supporting

Fisherman turned sea god who loves Scylla.

Scylla

supporting

Also known as fair Scylla

Nymph transformed into a sea monster by Circe.

Circe

supporting

Also known as Straight Circe, baneful filters Circe, Titanian Circe

Sorceress who turns men into animals and loves Picus.

Vertumnus

supporting

Also known as the bright Vertumnus

God of seasons who woos Pomona in disguise.

Pomona

supporting

Nymph of fruit trees courted by Vertumnus.

Romulus

supporting

Also known as Latian Line Romulus

Founder of Rome who becomes a god after his death.

Julius Caesar

supporting

Also known as Caesar, O Caesar

Roman dictator deified after his assassination.

Augustus

minor

First Roman emperor praised in the poem's conclusion.

Daphne

minor

Nymph who flees Apollo and is turned into a laurel tree.

Io

minor

Priestess of Juno turned into a heifer by Jupiter.

Argus

minor

Hundred-eyed giant slain by Mercury.

Syrinx

minor

Nymph who flees Pan and is turned into reeds.

Phaeton

minor

Also known as Phaeton Phaeton

Son of the Sun who drives the chariot and falls to earth.

Cycnus

minor

Also known as Cycnus Cycnus

Mourner of Phaeton turned into a swan.

Callisto

minor

Nymph turned into a bear by Juno and placed among the stars.

Coronis

minor

Also known as false Coronis

Lover of Apollo killed for infidelity, mother of Aesculapius.

Ocyrrhoe

minor

Also known as Mare Ocyrrhoe

Prophetic nymph turned into a mare.

Battus

minor

Also known as a Touchstone Battus

Shepherd turned into a touchstone for betraying Mercury.

Aglauros

minor

Athenian princess turned to stone for jealousy.

Europa

minor

Also known as Lovely Europa

Princess abducted by Jupiter in the form of a bull.

Actaeon

minor

Also known as young Actaeon, Wretched Actaeon

Hunter turned into a stag and killed by his own dogs.

Pentheus

minor

Also known as the rash Pentheus

Theban king torn apart by Bacchants for denying Bacchus.

Acrisius

minor

King of Argos, father of Danae, killed by Perseus.

Leucothoe

minor

Also known as the Sun Leucothoe

Mortal loved by the Sun, buried alive and turned into frankincense.

Clytie

minor

Also known as Fond Clytie, guilty Clytie

Nymph who pines for the Sun and becomes a sunflower.

Salmacis

minor

Nymph who merges with Hermaphroditus into one body.

Ino

minor

Daughter of Cadmus turned into a sea goddess.

Melicerta

minor

Also known as Young Melicerta

Son of Ino turned into a sea god.

Pyreneus

minor

Also known as Still fierce Pyreneus

King who attacks the Muses and falls to his death.

Cyane

minor

Nymph who dissolves into a fountain for opposing Pluto.

Ascalaphus

minor

Witness turned into an owl for revealing Proserpine's pomegranate.

Arethusa

minor

Nymph turned into a spring to escape Alpheus.

Lyncus

minor

Scythian king turned into a lynx for attacking Triptolemus.

Terpsichore

minor

Muse of dance, mother of the Sirens.