Table of Contents

ORESTES

Kills Klytaimnestra and Aigisthos to avenge his father's murder; foil character to Telemakhos.

PATROKLOS

Akhilleus' best friend at Troy; his death inspires Akhilleus to fight.

PEIRAIOS

Telemakhos' trusted crewman.

PEISISTRATOS

Nestor's youngest son; he becomes a good friend of Telemakhos.

PENELOPE

Wife of Odysseus, mother of Telemakhos.

PHAIAKIANS

Inhabitants of the island of Skheria.

PHEMIOS

Bard at the palace of Odysseus; spared in the slaughter.

PHILOITIOS

Faithful cowherd to Odysseus.

POLYPHEMOS

Another name for the Kyklopes.

POSEIDON

God of the sea; hostile toward Odysseus because Odysseus blinds his son, Kyklopes.

PROTEUS

Called "the Ancient of the Sea," he has the gift of prophecy and can change his shape.

SEIRENES

Enchantresses who lure sailors to their death.

SKHERIA

Island home of Alkinoos, Arete, and Nausikaa.

STYX

River boundary between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

TEIRESIAS

Blind prophet met by Odysseus in the land of the dead; he foretells Odysseus' future.

TELEMAKHOS

Son of Odysseus and Penelope; secondary hero of The Odyssey.

THEOKLYMENOS

Traveler who accompanies Telemakhos home and interprets the omens.

ZEUS

King of the gods, brother of Poseidon, father of Athena; ruler on Mount Olympos.

Table of Contents