CHARACTER LIST
Achilles
 The greatest warrior among the Greeks.
 Son of Peleus (human) and Thetis (sea nymph) (Greek).
 Fights against Troy, but yearns for peaceful life.
 Loses dignity when he desecrates Hector’s body – his
behaviour is not worthy of great warriors but he is unable to
help his actions
Patroclus
 Cousin and friend of Achilles who was killed by Hector while
wearing Achilles' armour (Greek)
 Begs to be allowed to fight in the war
 Patroclus was very young and idealistic about war and being a
warrior/ hero, and his death serves as a warning.
 His impetuosity at fighting Hector backfired, leading to his
death – setting in motion much of the action in the novel.
Neoptolemus
 Son of Achilles, lives with his grandfather Peleus (Greek)
 Distant relationship with his father
 Wants to carry on the cycle of revenge, to avenge his father
 Disappointed by the unsatisfying nature of revenge
Agamemnon
 King of Mycenae and leader of the Greek army against Troy
(Greek)
Peleus
 A king, father of Achilles (Greek)
Automedon
 Achilles' aide after Patrolus' death (Greek)
Priam
 Ageing King of Troy (name meaning 'the price paid' or 'the
ransom one') (Trojan)
 Believes the gods are guiding him and receives them in his
dreams
 The idea of going to Achilles dressed in common clothes
without regalia is quite shocking and Priam believes it was a
gift from the gods
Hector
 Eldest and dearest son of Priam and Hecuba.
 Kills Partoclus and is killed by Achilles in revenge (Trojan)
 His dead body is mutilated and dragged around by a chariot
for 11 days by Achilles, but every morning he is looking fresh
(an act of the gods)
 also a prince and warrior
 Ideal warrior; bears no animosity towards Achilles
Hecuba
 The queen of Troy and first wife to Priam (Trojan)
 She is shocked by when Priam suggests he approach Achilles
 Strong, powerful, respected
 She demonstrates heartbreak at the loss of her children
 Is more connected to her children as a mother, than Priam is
as a father
Idaeus
 The king's herald. Replaced by Somax for the journey to
Achilles' camp (Trojan)
Somax
 A simple carter ( someone who drives a wagon behind his two
mules
 Priam’s removal of his name to call him the generic Somax
shows that Somax is proud of his identity. He is not happy
about being called Idaeus.
 Chosen to assist the king to Achilles' camp (Trojan)
 Strong peasant who lives a basic life far removed from
royalty– the exact opposite of Priam
 Comes from a very different background – one of
 hardship, simplicity, basics and honesty
 Open and loving towards people, even though endures many
hardships and deaths of loved ones
 Acts paternally towards Priam
 Able to teach important lessons about life to Priam
 He is down to earth, warm and straightforward.
Balius and Xanthus
 Two immortal war horses who were gifts from the gods to
Peleus when he married Thetis. They pull Achilles' chariot as
he drags Hector's corpse in the dust for eleven days.
Beauty and Shock
 Two black mules who lead Somax's cart (Trojan)
Hermes
 Messenger of Zeus. God of heralds and interpreters (Greek
God)
 The god of communication and travel; also known as a
trickster. His appearance in the novel may appear strange to
some, but he is here to support Priam.