# The Birds — Character guide

> Key figures in The Birds by Aristophanes.

- [Pisthetaerus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/pisthetaerus.md): Athenian who persuades the birds to build Cloudcuckooland and becomes their ruler.
- [Euelpides](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/euelpides.md): Pisthetaerus's companion, seeking a peaceful city; often comic foil.
- [Epops](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/epops.md): The Hoopoe, former king Tereus, who helps the Athenians rally the birds.
- [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/zeus.md): King of the gods, whose authority is challenged by the birds' new city.
- [Heracles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/heracles.md): Demigod envoy from the gods, easily bribed by Pisthetaerus.
- [Prometheus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/prometheus.md): Titan who secretly advises Pisthetaerus on how to defeat the gods.
- [Iris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/iris.md): Messenger goddess who is intercepted and threatened by the birds.
- [Triballian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/triballian.md): Barbarian god envoy, speaks gibberish, part of the divine delegation.
- [Posidon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/posidon.md): Sea god, one of the divine envoys sent to negotiate with the birds.
- [Basileia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/basileia.md): Personification of sovereignty, given to Pisthetaerus as a bride.
- [Trochilus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/trochilus.md): A bird who serves as a herald or attendant in the bird kingdom.
- [Procne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/procne.md): The nightingale, wife of Epops, appears as a bird in the chorus.
- [Philomela](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/philomela.md): Sister of Procne, transformed into a bird; referenced in the bird chorus.
- [Meton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/meton.md): Astronomer/geometer who tries to survey Cloudcuckooland and is expelled.
- [Cinesias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/cinesias.md): Dithyrambic poet who visits the birds seeking inspiration and is mocked.
- [Prophet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/prophet.md): Soothsayer who tries to sell oracles to Pisthetaerus and is dismissed.
- [Priest](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/priest.md): Performs sacrifices for the new bird city, comic religious figure.
- [Manes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/manes.md): Slave of Pisthetaerus, appears briefly in a comic scene.
- [Phoebus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/phoebus.md): Apollo, invoked in oaths and mentioned as a god, not a speaking character.
- [Hermes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/hermes.md): Messenger god, appears briefly to deliver messages from the gods.
- [Artemis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/artemis.md): Goddess, mentioned in oaths and bird-related epithets.
- [Athene](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/athene.md): Goddess, invoked in oaths and prayers by characters.
- [Demeter](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/demeter.md): Goddess of harvest, invoked in oaths and religious contexts.
- [Bacchus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/bacchus.md): Dionysus, invoked in oaths and comic exclamations.
- [Muse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/muse.md): Goddess of poetry, invoked in the chorus's songs.
- [Eros](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/eros.md): God of love, mentioned in the context of desire and creation.
- [Hymen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/hymen.md): God of marriage, invoked in the wedding song at the end.
- [Philocrates](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/philocrates.md): Bird-seller mentioned in passing, not a scene character.
- [Cleonymus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/cleonymus.md): Athenian politician mocked for cowardice, appears as a joke.
- [Diitrephes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/diitrephes.md): Athenian general, mentioned in a comic aside.
- [Alcibiades](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/alcibiades.md): Athenian statesman, referenced as a contemporary figure.
- [Nicias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/nicias.md): Athenian general, mentioned in a political joke.
- [Sophocles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/sophocles.md): Tragic poet, referenced in a literary allusion.
- [Phrynichus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/phrynichus.md): Tragic poet, mentioned in a literary comparison.
- [Homer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/homer.md): Epic poet, quoted in the play's dialogue.
- [Lampon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/lampon.md): Soothsayer, mentioned as a rival prophet.
- [Pisander](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/pisander.md): Athenian politician, mocked for cowardice.
- [Callias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/callias.md): Wealthy Athenian, referenced in a joke about lineage.
- [Darius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/darius.md): Persian king, mentioned in a historical allusion.
- [Megabyzus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/megabyzus.md): Persian noble, mentioned alongside Darius.
- [Pisistratus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/pisistratus.md): Athenian tyrant, referenced in a historical comparison.
- [Philocles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/philocles.md): Tragic poet, mocked as a bird-like figure.
- [Tereus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/tereus.md): Mythical king, transformed into the hoopoe; backstory of Epops.
- [Sciapodes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/sciapodes.md): Mythical one-footed creatures, mentioned as potential allies.
- [The Greeks](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/greeks.md): Collective of Greek people, referenced in the chorus's appeal.
- [The Muses](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/muses.md): Goddesses of arts, invoked in choral odes.
- [The Birds](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters/birds.md): Chorus of birds who join Pisthetaerus in building the new city.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_birds_se/characters