Character guide

Ulysses

major

Also known as Odysseus, sage Ulysses, Godlike Ulysses, great Ulysses, King Ulysses, the shrewd Ulysses, wise Ulysses, the Ithacan Ulysses

The protagonist, a cunning Greek hero striving to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.

Telemachus

major

Also known as Telemachus the godlike, discreet Telemachus, young Telemachus

The son of Ulysses, who matures from a youth into a decisive leader during his father's absence.

Penelope

major

Also known as discreet Penelope, sage Penelope, the chaste Penelope, sorrowful Penelope

The faithful wife of Ulysses, who cleverly delays remarrying the suitors for years.

Pallas Athene

major

Also known as Pallas, Minerva, blue-eyed Pallas, mighty Pallas

The goddess of wisdom who actively guides and protects Ulysses and Telemachus.

Jove

major

Also known as Zeus, Father Jove, Saturnian Jove, cloud-compelling Jove, the Thunderer, Olympian Jove

The king of the gods, who ultimately decrees the fate of Ulysses and the suitors.

Neptune

supporting

Also known as Poseidon, King Neptune, mighty Neptune, Earthshaking Neptune, monarch Neptune

The god of the sea who relentlessly opposes Ulysses' return home.

Eumaeus

supporting

Also known as Swineherd Eumaeus, Noble Eumaeus, the master swineherd

The loyal swineherd of Ulysses who shelters him upon his return to Ithaca.

Eurycleia

supporting

Also known as the aged Eurycleia, Dame Eurycleia, the prudent Eurycleia

The old nurse of Ulysses who recognizes him by a scar on his foot.

Antinoüs

supporting

Also known as Antinous

The most arrogant and violent of Penelope's suitors, often leading their insolence.

Eurymachus

supporting

Also known as O Eurymachus

A leading suitor of Penelope, second only to Antinoüs in influence and cunning.

Nestor

supporting

Also known as Gerenian Nestor, the godlike Nestor, the aged Nestor, the knight Gerenian Nestor

The wise old king of Pylos who advises Telemachus on his journey.

Menelaus

supporting

Also known as Atrides, fair-haired Menelaus, godlike Menelaus, King Menelaus, the valiant Menelaus

The king of Sparta and brother of Agamemnon, who hosts Telemachus and tells of Ulysses.

Helen

supporting

Also known as the Argive Helen, Argive Helen, fair-haired Helen, Rosy Helen

The wife of Menelaus, whose abduction sparked the Trojan War, now reconciled in Sparta.

Calypso

supporting

Also known as fair Calypso, the nymph Calypso, Calypso of the radiant hair

A goddess-nymph who detains Ulysses on her island for seven years, seeking him as a husband.

Nausicaä

supporting

Also known as Nausicaä

The Phaeacian princess who discovers Ulysses on the shore and leads him to her father's court.

Alcinoüs

supporting

Also known as King Alcinoüs, wise Alcinoüs, Alcinoüs the mighty

The king of the Phaeacians who hosts Ulysses and provides him a ship home.

Aretè

minor

Also known as White-armed Aretè

The queen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinoüs, who respects Ulysses' plea for aid.

Demodocus

minor

Also known as renowned Demodocus

The blind bard of the Phaeacians who sings of the Trojan War and Ulysses' deeds.

Cyclops

supporting

Also known as Polyphemus, the cannibal Cyclops, O Cyclops

A one-eyed giant son of Neptune who traps and is blinded by Ulysses.

Circè

supporting

Also known as mighty Circè, Circe

A powerful enchantress who turns Ulysses' men into swine and later becomes his ally.

Eurylochus

minor

Also known as brave Eurylochus

A cautious officer among Ulysses' crew who survives Circe's trap and warns the others.

Tiresias

supporting

Also known as King Tiresias

The blind prophet of Thebes whom Ulysses consults in the underworld for guidance home.

Elpenor

minor

A young crewman of Ulysses who dies in a fall at Circe's palace and is buried later.

Scylla

minor

A six-headed sea monster who devours six of Ulysses' men as they pass her strait.

Charybdis

minor

A dangerous whirlpool opposite Scylla that threatens Ulysses' ship on his voyage.

Laertes

supporting

Also known as Son of Laertes, old Laertes, the sage Laertes, Old Laertes

The aged father of Ulysses, living in seclusion on Ithaca until his son's return.

Melanthius

minor

A treacherous goatherd who sides with the suitors and insults Ulysses in his own hall.

Melantho

minor

A disloyal maidservant in Ulysses' palace who mocks him and consorts with the suitors.

Irus

minor

A beggar in Ithaca who challenges Ulysses to a fight and is easily defeated.

Philoetius

minor

A loyal cowherd of Ulysses who helps him in the battle against the suitors.

Theoclymenus

minor

Also known as the godlike Theoclymenus

A prophet who travels with Telemachus and foresees doom for the suitors.

Piraeus

minor

A loyal Ithacan who hosts Theoclymenus and later returns Telemachus' gifts.

Medon

minor

Also known as the herald Medon, sagacious Medon

A herald in Ulysses' palace who is spared during the slaughter of the suitors.

Phemius

minor

A bard in Ithaca forced to entertain the suitors, later spared by Ulysses.

Amphinomus

minor

A relatively decent suitor who is killed despite Ulysses' warning to leave.

Ctesippus

minor

A rude suitor who throws a cow's hoof at Ulysses during the feast.

Leiodes

minor

A suitor who serves as a priest and is killed despite pleading for mercy.

Agelaüs

minor

Also known as noble Agelaüs

A suitor who speaks for the group and is slain by Ulysses during the battle.

Eupeithes

minor

Father of Antinoüs who leads an uprising against Ulysses after the suitors' deaths.

Dolius

minor

Also known as old Dolius

An old servant of Laertes who rejoices at Ulysses' return and helps in the final battle.

Hermes

supporting

Also known as Cyllenian Hermes

The messenger god who delivers Jove's commands to Calypso and aids Ulysses.

Aeolus

minor

The keeper of the winds who gives Ulysses a bag of winds to help him sail home.

Antiphates

minor

Also known as King Antiphates

The king of the man-eating Laestrygonians who destroys all but one of Ulysses' ships.

Achilles

minor

Also known as great Achilles

The fallen Greek hero whom Ulysses meets in the underworld, lamenting his fate.

Agamemnon

minor

Also known as Corrupted Agamemnon, King Agamemnon

The slain Greek king whom Ulysses encounters in the underworld, recounting his murder.

Ajax

minor

Also known as the valiant Ajax

A Greek hero who refuses to speak to Ulysses in the underworld due to past enmity.

Proteus

minor

Also known as Egyptian Proteus

A shape-shifting sea god who Menelaus captures to learn how to return home.

Peisistratus

minor

Also known as brave Peisistratus

The son of Nestor who accompanies Telemachus on his journey to Sparta.

Mentor

minor

Also known as O Mentor, Malicious Mentor

An Ithacan friend of Ulysses whose form Athene often takes to guide Telemachus.

Euryalus

minor

A Phaeacian prince who insults Ulysses and later gives him a gift in apology.

Laodamas

minor

Also known as O Laodamas

A Phaeacian prince who challenges Ulysses to athletic contests.

Vulcan

minor

Also known as Illustrious Vulcan, illustrious Vulcan

The god of fire and craftsmanship, who traps Mars and Venus in a net.

Mars

minor

Also known as Ares

The god of war, caught in an affair with Venus by Vulcan's trap.

Venus

minor

Also known as Venus de Medicis, blessed Venus, Cytherea

The goddess of love, caught in an affair with Mars by Vulcan.

Apollo

minor

Also known as Apollo of the, Phoebus

The god of archery and prophecy, invoked by characters throughout the epic.

Diana

minor

Also known as chaste Diana, Artemis

The goddess of the hunt, occasionally referenced in oaths and prayers.

Juno

minor

Also known as Hera

The queen of the gods, mentioned in the context of the Trojan War.

Pluto

minor

Also known as Hades

The god of the underworld, ruling over the realm of the dead.

Proserpine

minor

Also known as mighty Proserpine, Persephone

The queen of the underworld, wife of Pluto, encountered by Ulysses.

Sirens

minor

Also known as the Sirens, XII The Sirens

Enchanting creatures whose song lures sailors to their deaths, resisted by Ulysses.

Eurynomè

minor

A loyal maidservant in Penelope's household who assists her and Ulysses.

Noëmon

minor

Also known as Noëmon spake

An Ithacan who lends Telemachus a ship for his journey to Pylos.

Antilochus

minor

Also known as excellent Antilochus

A Greek hero and son of Nestor, mentioned in the underworld as a fallen warrior.

Orestes

minor

Also known as Prince Orestes, the divine Orestes

Son of Agamemnon who avenges his father's murder, cited as a model for Telemachus.

Idomeneus

minor

Also known as the great Idomeneus, King Idomeneus

A Cretan Greek hero who fought at Troy, mentioned in Nestor's tales.

Phaeacians

supporting

Also known as the Phaeacians

A seafaring people who host Ulysses and famously convey him home to Ithaca.

Lotus Eaters

minor

A peaceful people whose lotus fruit causes Ulysses' men to lose desire to return home.

Ciconians

minor

A Thracian tribe attacked by Ulysses after leaving Troy, leading to losses.

Laestrygonians

minor

A race of giant cannibals who destroy all but one of Ulysses' ships.

Hercules

minor

A legendary hero whose shade Ulysses encounters in the underworld.

Tantalus

minor

A figure in the underworld punished with eternal hunger and thirst, seen by Ulysses.

Sisyphus

minor

A figure in the underworld eternally pushing a boulder uphill, observed by Ulysses.

Autolycus

minor

The maternal grandfather of Ulysses, a renowned thief and trickster.

Icarius

minor

Also known as O daughter of Icarius

The father of Penelope, mentioned in addresses to her.

Atreus

minor

The father of Agamemnon and Menelaus, mentioned in genealogical references.

Peleus

minor

The father of Achilles, mentioned in the context of his son's glory.

Echeneüs

minor

Also known as Echeneus

An elder Phaeacian who advises Alcinoüs to honor Ulysses.

Nausithoüs

minor

The former king of the Phaeacians, father of Alcinoüs, mentioned in their history.

Amphiaraüs

minor

A prophet and hero whose shade is seen by Ulysses in the underworld.

Clytemnestra

minor

Also known as the noble Clytemnestra, treacherous Clytemnestra

The wife of Agamemnon who conspired in his murder, mentioned in the underworld.

Aegisthus

minor

Also known as treacherous Aegisthus

The lover of Clytemnestra who helped murder Agamemnon, later killed by Orestes.