Character guide

Pisthetaerus

major

Also known as Pisthetaerus By Zeus, Pisthetaerus The cuckoo, Pisthetaerus The, blessed Pisthetaerus, Pisthetaerus Apollo the Deliverer, Pisthetaerus Birds

Athenian who persuades the birds to build Cloudcuckooland and becomes their ruler.

Euelpides

major

Also known as Euelpides By Heracles, Euelpides By Phoebus

Pisthetaerus's companion, seeking a peaceful city; often comic foil.

Epops

supporting

Also known as Epops The wise, Epops By Zeus, Epops The Greeks

The Hoopoe, former king Tereus, who helps the Athenians rally the birds.

Zeus

supporting

Also known as Pisthetaerus By Zeus, Pisthetaerus The cuckoo

King of the gods, whose authority is challenged by the birds' new city.

Heracles

supporting

Also known as Heracles Hi Triballian, Heracles Mortal, Euelpides By Heracles

Demigod envoy from the gods, easily bribed by Pisthetaerus.

Prometheus

supporting

Titan who secretly advises Pisthetaerus on how to defeat the gods.

Iris

minor

Messenger goddess who is intercepted and threatened by the birds.

Triballian

minor

Also known as Triballus, Triballus Nabaisatreu, Heracles Hi Triballian

Barbarian god envoy, speaks gibberish, part of the divine delegation.

Posidon

minor

Sea god, one of the divine envoys sent to negotiate with the birds.

Basileia

minor

Personification of sovereignty, given to Pisthetaerus as a bride.

Trochilus

minor

Also known as Trochilus Good god

A bird who serves as a herald or attendant in the bird kingdom.

Procne

minor

The nightingale, wife of Epops, appears as a bird in the chorus.

Philomela

minor

Sister of Procne, transformed into a bird; referenced in the bird chorus.

Meton

minor

Astronomer/geometer who tries to survey Cloudcuckooland and is expelled.

Cinesias

minor

Also known as Cinesias Singing

Dithyrambic poet who visits the birds seeking inspiration and is mocked.

Prophet

minor

Soothsayer who tries to sell oracles to Pisthetaerus and is dismissed.

Priest

minor

Performs sacrifices for the new bird city, comic religious figure.

Manes

minor

Slave of Pisthetaerus, appears briefly in a comic scene.

Phoebus

minor

Also known as Euelpides By Phoebus

Apollo, invoked in oaths and mentioned as a god, not a speaking character.

Hermes

minor

Messenger god, appears briefly to deliver messages from the gods.

Artemis

minor

Also known as Artemis Colaenis, Artemis the goldfinch

Goddess, mentioned in oaths and bird-related epithets.

Athene

minor

Goddess, invoked in oaths and prayers by characters.

Demeter

minor

Goddess of harvest, invoked in oaths and religious contexts.

Bacchus

minor

Also known as Parricide By Bacchus

Dionysus, invoked in oaths and comic exclamations.

Muse

minor

Also known as Divine Muse

Goddess of poetry, invoked in the chorus's songs.

Eros

minor

Also known as Rosy Eros

God of love, mentioned in the context of desire and creation.

Hymen

minor

God of marriage, invoked in the wedding song at the end.

Philocrates

minor

Bird-seller mentioned in passing, not a scene character.

Cleonymus

minor

Athenian politician mocked for cowardice, appears as a joke.

Diitrephes

minor

Athenian general, mentioned in a comic aside.

Alcibiades

minor

Athenian statesman, referenced as a contemporary figure.

Nicias

minor

Athenian general, mentioned in a political joke.

Sophocles

minor

Also known as Sophocles Oenomaus

Tragic poet, referenced in a literary allusion.

Phrynichus

minor

Tragic poet, mentioned in a literary comparison.

Homer

minor

Epic poet, quoted in the play's dialogue.

Lampon

minor

Also known as Lampon 58

Soothsayer, mentioned as a rival prophet.

Pisander

minor

Also known as Pisander 180, This Pisander

Athenian politician, mocked for cowardice.

Callias

minor

Also known as a descendant of Callias

Wealthy Athenian, referenced in a joke about lineage.

Darius

minor

Also known as Darius and Megabyzus

Persian king, mentioned in a historical allusion.

Megabyzus

minor

Also known as Darius and Megabyzus

Persian noble, mentioned alongside Darius.

Pisistratus

minor

Athenian tyrant, referenced in a historical comparison.

Philocles

minor

Also known as Philocles the lark

Tragic poet, mocked as a bird-like figure.

Tereus

minor

Mythical king, transformed into the hoopoe; backstory of Epops.

Sciapodes

minor

Also known as the Sciapodes

Mythical one-footed creatures, mentioned as potential allies.

The Greeks

minor

Also known as Epops The Greeks

Collective of Greek people, referenced in the chorus's appeal.

The Muses

minor

Goddesses of arts, invoked in choral odes.

The Birds

supporting

Also known as Pisthetaerus Birds

Chorus of birds who join Pisthetaerus in building the new city.