THE ODYSSEY: ABOUT THE

CHARACTERSEnglish 9

Ms. Mulrooney

ODYSSEUS King of Ithaca

PENELOPE Odysseus’ wife

TELEMACHUS Son of Odysseus and Penelope

ATHENA Goddess of wisdom, war, and inspiration Odysseus’ protector

ANTINOUS Strongest of the suitors wishing to marry

Penelope

EURYMACHUS Another of Penelope’s suitors

CALYPSO Nymph who loves Odysseus

LEODES A suitor

NAUSICAA Phaeacian princess who rescues

Odysseus

ALCINOUS King of the Phaeacians Nausicaa’s father

POLYPHEMUS The cyclops, son of Poseidon A one-eyed monster

CIRCE A witch and a half-goddess

EURYLOCHUS One of Odysseus’ crewman

TIRESIAS Legendary blind seer whose ghost

appears to Odysseus

EUMAEUS Servant loyal to Odysseus and

Telemachus

EURYCLEIA Elderly house servant Once Odysseus and Telemachus’ nurse

ARETE Alcinous’ wife

APOLLO Greek mythology, god of poetry, music,

and prophecy

CRONUS Titan and ruler of the universe until he

was overthrown by his son, Zeus

HELIOS In early Greek mythology, the sun god

POSEIDON Greek god of the sea Identified with the Roman god Neptune

ZEUS Ruler of gods and goddesses on Mount

Olympus

LAERTES Odysseus’ father

SCYLLA Dangerous rock in the Straits of Messina Known as a female monster with six

heads who devours passing sailors

SIRENS Sea nymphs who lured sailors to

destruction with their songs