# The Golden Ass — Character guide

> Key figures in The Golden Ass by Apuleius.

- [Lucius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/lucius.md): Curious young man transformed into an ass, seeking to regain human form.
- [Psyche](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/psyche.md): Beautiful mortal princess who marries Cupid and endures trials set by Venus.
- [Fotis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/fotis.md): Milo's servant girl who becomes Lucius's lover and aids his magical curiosity.
- [Milo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/milo.md): Wealthy moneylender and host to Lucius in Hypata.
- [Byrrhena](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/byrrhena.md): Lucius's wealthy relative who warns him about Pamphile's sorcery.
- [Pamphiles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/pamphiles.md): Milo's wife and a powerful witch who transforms into a bird.
- [Venus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/venus.md): Goddess of love who persecutes Psyche out of jealousy.
- [Cupid](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/cupid.md): God of love who falls in love with Psyche and marries her secretly.
- [Charites](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/charites.md): Young noblewoman rescued by Lucius the ass from a cliff.
- [Thrasillus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/thrasillus.md): Deceptive suitor who plots to kill Charites's husband Lepolemus.
- [Lepolemus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/lepolemus.md): Charites's husband who disguises himself to rescue her from bandits.
- [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/socrates.md): Traveler who tells the story of his encounter with the witch Meroe.
- [Aristomenus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/aristomenus.md): Storyteller who recounts Socrates's misadventures with Meroe.
- [Meroe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/meroe.md): Powerful witch who takes revenge on her lover Socrates.
- [Diophanes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/diophanes.md): Soothsayer who predicts Lucius's journey but is himself robbed.
- [Thrasileon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/thrasileon.md): Bandit who disguises himself in a bear skin to infiltrate a house.
- [Lamathus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/lamathus.md): Captain of the thieves who dies during a raid.
- [Myrmex](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/myrmex.md): Slave entrusted to guard a treasure, later seduced by Philesiterus.
- [Philesiterus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/philesiterus.md): Lover who bribes Myrmex to gain access to a married woman.
- [Barbarus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/barbarus.md): Husband who discovers his wife's infidelity through a hidden witness.
- [Alcimus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/alcimus.md): Thief who dies after stealing a sword from a statue.
- [Demochares](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/demochares.md): Wealthy man who plans a gladiatorial show with bears.
- [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/jupiter.md): King of the gods who intervenes in the Cupid and Psyche story.
- [Mercury](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/mercury.md): Messenger god who proclaims Venus's reward for finding Psyche.
- [Zephyrus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/zephyrus.md): West wind who carries Psyche to Cupid's palace.
- [Isis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/isis.md): Goddess who appears to Lucius and guides him to redemption.
- [Osiris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/osiris.md): God who appears to Lucius in a vision after his initiation.
- [Pithias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/pithias.md): Lucius's former schoolmate who becomes an aedile in Hypata.
- [Apollo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/apollo.md): God whose oracle foretells Psyche's marriage to a monster.
- [Juno](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/juno.md): Goddess who refuses to help Psyche in her distress.
- [Ceres](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/ceres.md): Goddess of harvest who also refuses Psyche's plea for aid.
- [Charon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/charon.md): Ferryman of the underworld encountered by Psyche.
- [Proserpina](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/proserpina.md): Queen of the underworld from whom Psyche must fetch beauty.
- [Diana](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/diana.md): Goddess of the hunt, briefly invoked in the narrative.
- [Philebus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/philebus.md): Priest of the Syrian goddess who travels with Lucius the ass.
- [Daphne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/daphne.md): Woman who turns into a laurel tree, mentioned in a story.
- [Acteon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/acteon.md): Hunter turned into a stag by Diana, referenced in art.
- [Demeas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/dem%20eas.md): Man who accuses his wife of adultery in a comic tale.
- [Chriseros](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/chriseros.md): Miser who hides his gold and is tricked by a neighbor.
- [Panthia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/panthia.md): Witch sister of Meroe who assists in revenge on Socrates.
- [William Adlington](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_ass_se/characters/adlington.md): Translator of the English edition of The Golden Ass.

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