The Odyssey
People and Places
 Ithaca: the island kingdom of
Odysseus; off the west coast
of mainland Greece.
Characters in Ithaca:
1. Penelope: Odysseus’ faithful wife
2. Telemachus: Odysseus’ son
3. Antinous: one of Penelope’s main suitors; an
arrogan and mean young noble from
Ithaca
4. Eurymachus: suitor of Penelope
5. Eurycleia: Odysseus’ old nurse; recognizes
him by the scar on this thigh when he is
disguised as a beggar
Characters that Cause
Trouble: The Ladies
1. Charybdis: monster that sucks in water three times a
day to make a deadly cyclone/whirlpool.
2. Calypso: beautiful nymph goddess who keeps
Odysseus on her island for 7 years.
3. Circe: enchantress and goddess who turns
Odysseus’ men into swine/pigs
4. Scylla: monster with 6 serpent heads each with a
triple row of fangs
5. Sirens: sea nymphs whose beautiful and mysterious
music/singing lures sailors to steer their ship towards
dangerous rocks/ a watery grave
Characters That Cause
Trouble: The Gentlemen
 Polyphemus: Cyclops who is blinded by
Odysseus. Son of the sea god Poseidon,
and from a race of brutish, one-eyed
giants who live solitary lives as shepherds
 Poseidon: the sea god. An adversary
who puts storms in the way of Odysseus’
journey home.
Other Trouble Makers
 Cicones: people living on the
southwestern coast of Thrace who
battled Odysseus and his men on their
journey.
 Lotus Eaters: people who feel
Odysseus and his men lotus plants to
make them forget Ithaca.
The Gods
 Zeus: The most powerful god. His home is
Mount Olympus.
 Apollo: god of poetry, music, prophecy,
medicine, and archery
 Athena: favorite daughter of Zeus;
goddess of wisdom as well as arts and
justice & war and peace. She favored
the Greeks during the Trojan War.
 Cronus: Titan (giant god) who ruled the
earth until his son Zeus overthrew him.
Gods continued…
 Poseidon (again!): god of the sea; brother of
Zeus, enemy of Odysseus.
 Helios: sun god.
 Hephaestus: god of fire and metal working.
 Hermes: messenger god.