The Odyssey
Main Human Characters
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Odysseus - The Odyssey is the story of his journey home from the Trojan war. He i5
brave, loyal, and above all else clever. He is the king of Ithaca.
Penelope - The faithful, loyal wife of Odysseus. She patiently waits 20 years for his
return. She is Homer's example of the perfect Greek wife and mother.
Telemachus- Son of Odysseus and Penelope. He was only an infant when his father left
to fight in Troy. The Odyssey is also a story about Telemachus' journey to manhood.
Minor Human Characters
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Antinous- The evil leader of the suitors. He is the first one Odysseus kills
Eumaeus - A servant of Odysseus. He has remained loyal to Odysseus throughout his
master's twenty year absence. He and Philoetius help Odysseus fight the suitors.
Eurycleia- An old woman servant who was a devoted nurse to both Odysseus and
Telemachus.
Eurymachus- A suitor. He is an evil coward. He tries to blame Antinous for all the suitors
actions. Eurymachus is the second suitor killed by Odysseus.
Irus- The favorite beggar of the suitors. He is cruel to Odysseus when Odysseus is
disguised as a beggar.
Laertes - Odysseus' father. He lives on a farm some distance from Odysseus palace.
Melantho - A servant girl. She has been disloyal to Odysseus in his absence by
becoming the mistress of Eurymachus.
Melanthius- A servant of Odysseus who has betrayed him in his absence by assisting the
suitors.
Menelaus- King of Sparta. He was a comrade of Odysseus during the Trojan war. It was
the abduction of his wife, Helen, that caused the war.
Nestor- King of Pylos. He fought at Troy with Odysseus. He is known for his wise
counsel.
Philoetlus A loyal servant to Odysseus. He and Eumaeus help Odysseus fight the suitors.
Tiresias- A famous, deceased Greek prophet. Odysseus goes to Hades to consult his
spirit.
Gods Who Help Odysseus
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Athena- Goddess of wisdom. She comes to Odysseus' aid by intervening with the other
gods to bring Poseidon into line and let Odysseus go home.
Hermes- Messenger of the gods. He is sent by Zeus to order Calypso to release
Odysseus. He, also, guides the souls of the suitors to Hades.
Zeus- King of all the gods. He is the keeper of Fate. He lets Athena assist Odysseus.
Gods and Others Who Impede The Journey Home
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Aeolus- Keeper of the winds. He places all of the bad winds in a bag and gives them to
Odysseus. Ithaca is within sight when the ship's crew lets the winds out and the ship is
blown far away by the storms within the bag.
Calypso- A beautiful sea nymph who tries to make Odysseus her husband. She holds
him captive for nine years. Calypso offers Odysseus immortality if he will stay with her.
Charybdis - A violent whirlpool. It destroys all ships that get caught in home by boat.
Circe - When Odysseus' crew meets her she turns them into pigs. Odysseus becomes
her lover, and she later helps him on his journey home.
Helios - God of the Sun. Odysseus earns his wrath when his crew eats some of Helios'
sacred cattle.
Lotus-Eaters - A people who eat the Lotus plant, a narcotic.
Polyphemus - Son of Poseidon. He is one of the Cyclops (one eyed giants). Odysseus
blinds him.
Poseidon - God of the Sea. He seeks revenge on Odysseus for injuring his son,
Polyphemus.
Scylla - A six headed monster that Odysseus must go by to get home. She eats six of his
men (one for each head).
Sirens - These beautiful maidens lure sailors to their deaths with an irresistible song.
Odysseus fills his crew's ears with wax to save them from temptation.