Character guide

Augustine

major

Also known as Hippo, Compare Augustine, Augustine De Genesi, Augustine of Hippo

The author and narrator, Bishop of Hippo, who writes to defend the City of God.

Jesus Christ

major

Also known as Christ, the Lord Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus, Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Man Christ Jesus, Man, Christ Jesus, the Saviour, Saviour, the same Mediator

The central figure of Christian faith, the Son of God and mediator between God and humanity.

Abraham

major

Also known as Abram

The patriarch of Israel, father of Isaac, and model of faith in God's promises.

Marcus Varro

supporting

Also known as the same Varro, Varro, Mark

Roman scholar and author whose works on Roman religion are frequently cited and critiqued.

Plato

supporting

Also known as the good Plato

Greek philosopher whose ideas about the ideal state and the soul are discussed extensively.

Jupiter

supporting

Also known as god Jupiter

Chief god of the Roman pantheon, often criticized as a false deity by Augustine.

Romulus

supporting

Also known as Numa Pompilius, who succeeded Romulus in the kingdom, Numa, Numa Pompilius, Pompilius, King Numa Pompilius

Founder and first king of Rome, later deified; also Numa, his successor and lawgiver.

Cicero

supporting

Also known as M. Tullius Cicero, Tully

Roman statesman, orator, and philosopher whose works are quoted on ethics and politics.

Jacob

supporting

Also known as Joseph, the sons of Joseph, whom Jacob blessed, prophetically changing his hands

Patriarch of Israel, father of the twelve tribes, whose story illustrates divine election.

Isaac

supporting

Also known as Isaac Taylor

Son of Abraham and Sarah, father of Jacob and Esau, a type of Christ in sacrifice.

Apuleius

minor

Also known as the Platonist Apuleius, Apuleius

Platonist philosopher and author, cited for his views on demons and magic.

Cain

supporting

Also known as Tubal-Cain

Firstborn son of Adam, murderer of his brother Abel, founder of the earthly city.

Adam

supporting

Also known as XV That Adam

First man created by God, whose sin brought death into the world.

John

supporting

Also known as the blessed Apostle John, the Apostle John, Apostle John, John Damascene

Apostle and evangelist, author of the Gospel and Revelation, often quoted on Christ's divinity.

Minerva

minor

Also known as the Greeks, The Greeks, Homer, the Minerva of Homer, who interposed in the ranks of the Greeks

Roman goddess of wisdom, often identified with Athena, and a subject of pagan worship critique.

Noah

supporting

Also known as righteous Noah

Righteous man saved from the Flood, through whom humanity and the covenant were preserved.

Felicity

minor

Also known as felicity, the god Father Catius, who should make men cautious, that is, acute, when Felicity, Father Catius, goddess Felicity

Roman goddess of good fortune, discussed in the context of pagan worship of abstractions.

Aaron

minor

Brother of Moses and first high priest of Israel, representing the Levitical priesthood.

Sarah

minor

Wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, a figure of faith and the promise of offspring.

Cyrus

minor

Also known as the Assyrians, the Jews, Chaldeans, the Chaldeans, Cyrus king of Persia, who also ruled the Chaldeans and Assyrians, having somewhat relaxed the captivity of the Jews, Jews

Persian king who allowed the Jews to return from exile, fulfilling prophecy.

Peter

supporting

Also known as the Apostle Peter

Chief apostle of Jesus, often cited on church authority and the keys of the kingdom.

Juno

minor

Also known as Lucina, Juno Lucina

Roman queen of the gods, associated with marriage and childbirth, criticized as false.

Saturn

minor

Also known as Good Saturn, The father Saturn

Roman god of agriculture and time, often identified with the Greek Cronus.

Sylla

minor

Roman dictator and general, used as an example of cruelty and civil war.

Scipio Nasica

minor

Also known as the famous Scipio Nasica, Scipio, Scipio Nasica, Nasica

Roman senator praised for his virtue and opposition to the destruction of Carthage.

Paul

supporting

Also known as the Corinthians the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Paul, the Corinthians

Apostle to the Gentiles, whose letters are frequently quoted on grace and the law.

Virgil

supporting

Roman poet, author of the Aeneid, often cited for his views on Roman destiny and the gods.

Socrates

minor

Also known as Socrates the Athenian

Greek philosopher, mentor of Plato, known for his method and opposition to pagan myths.

Jove

minor

Also known as supreme Jove, the same Jove, Almighty Jove, Almighty

Another name for Jupiter, chief Roman god, often used in poetic and philosophical contexts.

Jeremiah

minor

Also known as holy Jeremiah, Zephaniah, the prophet Zephaniah, who prophesied with Jeremiah, Zephaniah

Old Testament prophet who foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the new covenant.

Moses

supporting

Also known as the Israelites, the Israelites Moses, Israelites, Moses carnally

Lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus and received the Ten Commandments.

Hermes Trismegistus

minor

Also known as Trismegistus, Hermes

Legendary Hellenistic figure associated with wisdom and occult philosophy, cited on idolatry.

Mars

minor

Also known as Venus, Venus or Mars

Roman god of war, often paired with Venus in discussions of pagan morality.

Apollo

minor

Also known as the Cuman Apollo

Roman god of prophecy, music, and healing, associated with the Sibyl and oracles.

Marcus Attilius Regulus

minor

Also known as Regulus, Marcus Regulus

Roman general and consul, famous for his stoic return to Carthage and death.

Sallust

minor

Roman historian whose works on the Catilinarian conspiracy and Jugurthine War are cited.

Shem

minor

Son of Noah, ancestor of the Semitic peoples, through whom the line of Abraham descends.

Aeneas

minor

Trojan hero and legendary founder of Rome, central figure in Virgil's Aeneid.

Lot

minor

Nephew of Abraham, rescued from Sodom, an example of righteous living among the wicked.

Antichrist

minor

Figure of end-times opposition to Christ, discussed in the context of prophecy and judgment.

Terah

minor

Father of Abraham, who set out for Canaan but settled in Haran.

Job

minor

Also known as Cato, Cato the saintly Job, who endured dreadful evils in his body rather than deliver himself from all torment by self-inflicted death, conquered Cato

Patient sufferer from the Old Testament, an example of endurance and faith in trials.

Janus

minor

Two-faced Roman god of beginnings and transitions, keeper of gates and doors.

Seth

minor

Third son of Adam, ancestor of the line leading to Noah and the patriarchs.

Brutus

minor

Also known as Junius Brutus

Founder of the Roman Republic, who expelled the Tarquins and established liberty.

Heber

minor

Also known as Salah, Salah begat Heber

Ancestor of Abraham, from whom the term 'Hebrew' is derived.

Marius

minor

Roman general and consul, known for his military reforms and rivalry with Sulla.

Mercury

minor

Also known as Trismegistus, Mercury Trismegistus

Roman messenger god, also identified with the Egyptian Thoth and Hermes Trismegistus.

Samuel

minor

Also known as holy Samuel

Prophet and last judge of Israel, who anointed Saul and David as kings.

Hercules

minor

Also known as This Hercules, whose great deeds are reckoned as twelve (not including the slaughter of Antaeus the African, because that affair pertains to another Hercules), Antaeus the African, Antaeus

Legendary hero known for his twelve labors, often cited in pagan mythology.

Holy Scripture

supporting

Also known as Scripture, divine Scripture

The Bible, considered the authoritative word of God, frequently quoted and interpreted.

Isaiah

minor

Also known as Isaiah

Major prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah and the suffering servant.

Enoch

minor

Also known as Enoch begat

Righteous man who walked with God and was taken up without dying.

Marcus Cato

minor

Also known as Cato

Roman statesman and moralist, known for his strict virtue and opposition to luxury.

Lamech

minor

Also known as Methusael begat Lamech, the fifth Methusael, the sixth Lamech, Methusael begat

Descendant of Cain, father of Noah, and a figure in the genealogy of the patriarchs.

Ninus

minor

Also known as King Ninus

Legendary founder of Nineveh and the Assyrian empire, mentioned in historical chronology.

Judah

minor

Son of Jacob, ancestor of the tribe from which King David and Jesus descended.

Annaeus Seneca

minor

Also known as Seneca

Roman Stoic philosopher and playwright, cited on ethics and the nature of the gods.

Manasseh

minor

Also known as Joseph, Machir, Machir the son of Manasseh, grandson of Joseph

Son of Joseph, patriarch of one of the tribes of Israel, blessed by Jacob.

Egyptians

minor

Also known as the Egyptians, the oppressive Egyptians, Apis, Apis king of Argos, whom the Egyptians called Serapis, Serapis, V Of Apis king of Argos, whom the Egyptians called Serapis, and worshipped with divine honours

Ancient people and their gods, often used as examples of idolatry and oppression of Israel.

Lucretia

minor

Roman noblewoman whose rape and suicide led to the overthrow of the monarchy.

Alexander of Macedon

minor

Also known as Alexander

Macedonian conqueror who created a vast empire, discussed in historical examples.

Mucius Scaevola

minor

Also known as Mucius, Scaevola

Roman hero who demonstrated courage by burning his hand to prove his resolve.

Methuselah

minor

Patriarch known for his extreme longevity, son of Enoch and grandfather of Noah.

King Tarquin

minor

Also known as Tarquin, king Tarquin

Last king of Rome, whose tyranny led to the establishment of the Republic.

Liber

minor

Also known as Father, the Father, The Father, Father Liber

Roman god of wine and fertility, often identified with Dionysus or Bacchus.

Theodosius

minor

Also known as Theodosius Augustus, Augustus

Christian Roman emperor who made Christianity the state religion and opposed paganism.

Nero Caesar

minor

Also known as Nero

Infamous Roman emperor, persecutor of Christians, used as an example of tyranny.

Abel

minor

Second son of Adam, murdered by his brother Cain, a type of the righteous sufferer.

Rehoboam

minor

Also known as Israel, Rehoboam, O Israel

Son of Solomon, whose harsh rule caused the division of the kingdom of Israel.

Neptune

minor

Roman god of the sea, often invoked in discussions of pagan mythology.

Plotinus

minor

Also known as The Platonist Plotinus

Neoplatonist philosopher whose ideas on the One and the soul are discussed.

Radagaisus

minor

Gothic king who invaded Italy and was defeated, an example of divine judgment.

Ham

minor

Son of Noah, father of Canaan, whose descendants were cursed for his disrespect.

Augustus

minor

Also known as Caesar, Caesar Augustus

First Roman emperor, under whose reign Christ was born, a figure of political order.

Vesta

minor

Also known as Venus, Vesta Venus

Roman goddess of the hearth, often paired with Venus in discussions of domestic virtue.

Lactantius

minor

Early Christian author and apologist, cited on the errors of paganism.

Aesculapius

minor

Also known as O Aesculapius

Roman god of medicine and healing, son of Apollo, worshipped for cures.

Tellus

minor

Also known as mother Tellus

Roman earth goddess, personification of the fertile land, worshipped in agriculture.

Hesperius

minor

A contemporary Christian layman mentioned in a miracle story about relics.