Odysseus
The protagonist of the Odyssey. He fought among the other Greek heroes at Troy and now struggles to return to his kingdom in Ithaca. The husband of Queen Penelope and the father of Prince Telemachus. Though a strong and courageous warrior, he is most reno
Telemachus
Odysseus's son. An infant when Odysseus left for Troy, he is about twenty at the beginning of the story. He is a natural obstacle to the suitors desperately courting his mother, but despite his courage and good heart, he initially lacks the poise and conf
Penelope
Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. She spends her days in the palace pining for the husband who left for Troy twenty years earlier and never returned. Homer portrays her as sometimes flighty and excitable but also clever and steadfastly true to he
Athena
Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, purposeful battle, and the womanly arts. She assists Odysseus and Telemachus with divine powers throughout the epic, and she speaks up for them in the councils of the gods on Mount Olympus. She often appears in disg
Poseidon
God of the sea. As the suitors are Odysseus's mortal antagonists, he is his divine antagonist. He despises Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and constantly hampers his journey home. Ironically, he is the patron of the seafaring Phaeac
Zeus
King of gods and men, who mediates the disputes of the gods on Mount Olympus. He is occasionally depicted as weighing men's fates in his scales. He sometimes helps Odysseus or permits Athena to do the same.
Antinous
The most arrogant of Penelope's suitors. He leads the campaign to have Telemachus killed. Unlike the other suitors, he is never portrayed sympathetically, and he is the first to die when Odysseus returns.
Eurymachus
A manipulative, deceitful suitor. His charisma and duplicity allow him to exert some influence over the other suitors.
Amphinomus
Among the dozens of suitors, the only decent man seeking Penelope's hand in marriage. He sometimes speaks up for Odysseus and Telemachus, but he is killed like the rest of the suitors in the final fight.
Eumaeus
The loyal shepherd who, along with the cowherd Philoetius, helps Odysseus reclaim his throne after his return to Ithaca. Even though he does not know that the vagabond who appears at his hut is Odysseus, he gives the man food and shelter.
Eurycleia
The aged and loyal servant who nursed Odysseus and Telemachus when they were babies. She is well informed about palace intrigues and serves as confidante to her masters. She keeps Telemachus's journey secret from Penelope, and she later keeps Odysseus's i
Melanthius
He is a treacherous and opportunistic goatherd who supports the suitors, especially Eurymachus, and abuses the beggar who appears in Odysseus's palace, not realizing that the man is Odysseus himself.
Calypso
The beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus when he lands on her island-home of Ogygia. She holds him prisoner there for seven years until Hermes, the messenger god, persuades her to let him go.
Polyphemus
One of the Cyclopes (uncivilized one-eyed giants) whose island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy. He imprisons Odysseus and his crew and tries to eat them, but Odysseus blinds him through a clever ruse and manages to escape. In doing so, however,
Circe
The beautiful witch-goddess who transforms Odysseus's crew into swine when he lands on her island. With Hermes' help, Odysseus resists her powers and then becomes her lover, living in luxury at her side for a year.
Laertes
Odysseus's aging father, who resides on a farm in Ithaca. In despair and physical decline, he regains his spirit when Odysseus returns and eventually kills Antinous's father.
Tiresias
A Theban prophet who inhabits the underworld. He meets Odysseus when Odysseus journeys to the underworld in Book 11. He shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca and allows Odysseus to communicate with the other souls in Hades.
Nestor
King of Pylos and a former warrior in the Trojan War. Like Odysseus, he is known as a clever speaker. Telemachus visits him in Book 3 to ask about his father, but he knows little of Odysseus's whereabouts.
Menelaus
King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, and husband of Helen, he helped lead the Greeks in the Trojan War. He offers Telemachus assistance in his quest to find Odysseus when Telemachus visits him in Book 4.
Helen
Wife of Menelaus and queen of Sparta. Her abduction from Sparta by the Trojans sparked the Trojan War. Her beauty is without parallel, but she is criticized for giving in to her Trojan captors and thereby costing many Greek men their lives. She offers Tel
Agamemnon
Former king of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, and commander of the Achaean forces at Troy. Odysseus encounters his spirit in Hades. He was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, upon his return from the war. He was later avenged by h
Nausicaa
The beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. She discovers Odysseus on the beach at Scheria and, out of budding affection for him, ensures his warm reception at her parents' palace.
Alcinous
King of the Phaeacians, who offers Odysseus hospitality in his island kingdom of Scheria. He hears the story of Odysseus's wanderings and provides him with safe passage back to Ithaca.
Arete
Queen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinous, and mother of Nausicaa. She is intelligent and influential. Nausicaa tells Odysseus to make his appeal for assistance to her.
kleos
Glory one receives through deeds and actions. Seeked by Odysseus throughout the story.
nostos
Homecoming, homeward voyage. The journey Odysseus is on.
xenia
Hospitality.
in media res
In the middle of.
hubris
Pride.
Themes
1. Cunning > strength
2. Idea of effect of temptation on people
3. Goals vs. obstacles
4. Separation (from family/homeland... how it affects people)
5. Coming of age (Telemachus)
7. Fate/destiny
epithet
Nickname or adjective often used to describe one person.
Dawn epithet
Rose red fingers
Zeus epithet
Almighty; Son of Kronos
Calypso epithet
Lustrous goddess
Odysseus epithet
Man of exploits; Son of Laertes
Circe epithet
The nymph with lovely braids
Pallas Athena epithet
bright-eyed goddess
Telemachus epithet
self-possessed, thoughtful
suitor epithet
shameless, brazen
Penelope epithet
self-possessed
Hermes epithet
giant killer