Who’s Who in The Odyssey

King of Ithaca, son of Laertes, husband of Penelope, and father of Telemachus. After fighting in the Trojan War, he spends ten years struggling to return to his home and family. 

Daughter of Icarius, wife of Odysseus, and mother of Telemachus. During Odysseus’ long absence, she remains in Ithaca, where numerous suitors pressure her to choose a new husband. 

Son of Odysseus and Penelope. As the poem begins, he sets out to learn what happened to his father and begins to take responsibility for his household. 

Laertes 

Son of Arcesius and father of Odysseus. The elderly former king lives away from the palace on his farm. 

Daughter of Autolycus and mother of Odysseus. Odysseus encounters her spirit during his journey to the land of the dead. 

 

Zeus 

Son of Cronos and ruler of the Olympian gods. He oversees the actions of gods and mortals and ultimately supports Odysseus’ return home and the restoration of order in Ithaca. 

Divine daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom. She is the principal divine protector of Odysseus and Telemachus, frequently guiding and assisting them while appearing in different forms. 

Divine son of Cronos, god of the sea, and father of the Cyclops Polyphemus. Angered when Odysseus blinds his son, Poseidon creates many obstacles during Odysseus’ journey home. 

Divine son of Zeus and the nymph Maia and messenger of the gods. Often called “the killer of Argus,” he helps Odysseus resist Circe’s magic and carries Zeus’ command that Calypso release him. 

A divine nymph, daughter of Atlas, who lives on the island of Ogygia. She keeps Odysseus on her island and wishes to make him her husband. 

A divine daughter of Helios who lives on the island of Aeaea. She transforms some of Odysseus’ companions into pigs but later becomes his host and advises him about the dangers that lie ahead. 

Helios
God of the sun and father of Circe. His sacred cattle live on the island of Thrinacia. When Odysseus’ companions kill the cattle despite being warned not to harm them, Helios demands that they be punished. 

 

Son of Alcimus, steward of Odysseus’ palace, and an old companion of Odysseus. Athena frequently assumes his appearance when guiding and assisting Telemachus. 

Odysseus’ swineherd and a loyal servant in his household. He welcomes Odysseus while the king is disguised and remains faithful to Odysseus and his family throughout his long absence. 

Daughter of Ops and an elderly servant in Odysseus’ household. She cared for Odysseus when he was young and later cared for Telemachus. She recognizes the returned Odysseus by the scar on his leg. 

Odysseus’ cattle herder and a loyal servant in his household. He remains devoted to his absent master and helps Odysseus in his struggle against the suitors. 

Daughter of Alcinous and Arete and a princess of the Phaeacians. She discovers Odysseus after he is shipwrecked and helps him reach her parents’ palace. 

King of the Phaeacians and husband of Arete. He welcomes Odysseus, listens to the story of his travels, and arranges for him to return safely to Ithaca. 

Wife of Alcinous and queen of the Phaeacians. She receives Odysseus at the Phaeacian court and is highly respected by her husband and people. 

Son of Eupeithes and one of the leaders of the suitors. He is the most aggressive and arrogant of the men occupying Odysseus’ palace and seeking to marry Penelope. He plots against Telemachus and leads many of the suitors’ abuses. 

Son of Polybus and one of the leaders of the suitors. He is persuasive but deceitful and participates fully in the suitors’ misuse of Odysseus’ household. 

Amphinomus 

Son of Nisus and one of the suitors from Dulichium. He is more thoughtful and restrained than many of the other suitors and opposes some of their most violent plans, but he remains among them. 

 

MONSTERS, DANGERS, AND SUPERNATURAL FIGURES 

A Cyclops, son of Poseidon and the sea nymph Thoösa. He traps Odysseus and his companions in his cave and devours several of the men. Odysseus blinds him in order to escape, bringing upon himself the anger of Poseidon. 

Dangerous creatures whose irresistible singing lures sailors toward them. Warned of the danger by Circe, Odysseus has himself tied to his ship’s mast so that he may hear their song, while his companions stop their ears with wax. 

A terrifying sea monster who lives in a cave in a high cliff. She has twelve feet and six long necks, each ending in a fearsome head. As Odysseus’ ship passes, she seizes six of his companions. 

A dangerous sea monster who lives opposite Scylla. Three times each day she swallows enormous quantities of seawater and three times spews the water out again, creating a deadly whirlpool. 

Son of Hippotas and keeper of the winds. He welcomes Odysseus and gives him a bag containing all the winds that could drive his ships away from Ithaca. Odysseus’ companions open the bag while he is asleep, and the released winds carry them away from home. 

A famous prophet from Thebes. Odysseus seeks his spirit in the land of the dead to learn what lies ahead on his journey and what he must do to return safely to Ithaca. 

 

A relative of Odysseus and one of the principal members of his crew. He leads the group of men who encounter Circe and is the only one to avoid being transformed. Later, he persuades the starving crew to kill the sacred cattle of Helios. 

One of Odysseus’ companions. He dies accidentally on Circe’s island and later encounters Odysseus in the land of the dead, where he asks Odysseus to return to the island and give him proper funeral rites. 

A people whose food causes those who eat it to lose all desire to return home. Some of Odysseus’ companions eat the lotus and must be taken back to the ships by force. 

A race of powerful, cannibalistic giants. They attack Odysseus’ fleet and destroy all his ships except the one he commands. 

Daughter of Cadmus, once a mortal woman and later an immortal sea goddess. She takes pity on the shipwrecked Odysseus and gives him a protective veil that helps him reach the land of the Phaeacians safely. 

Son of Dolius and Odysseus’ goatherd. He is disloyal to Odysseus’ household, supports the suitors, and insults Odysseus while the king is disguised as a beggar. During the final struggle, he helps the suitors by bringing them weapons. 

Daughter of Dolius and a servant in Odysseus’ household. Although Penelope raised her and treated her like a daughter, Melantho becomes disloyal, associates with Eurymachus, and speaks harshly to Odysseus while he is disguised. 

A singer in Odysseus’ palace who performs for the suitors. During the final conflict, he explains that he served them under compulsion and asks Odysseus to spare his life. 

A herald in Odysseus’ household. He remains loyal to Penelope and warns her about the suitors’ plot against Telemachus. During the final conflict, he takes refuge beneath a chair and is spared by Odysseus. 

Dolius 

An elderly servant of Laertes and the father of Melanthius and Melantho. Unlike his disloyal children, he remains faithful to Odysseus’ family and welcomes Odysseus after his return. 

Son of Atreus, brother of Menelaus, king of Argos, and leader of the Achaean forces in the Trojan War. Odysseus encounters his spirit in the land of the dead and hears how Agamemnon was killed after returning home from Troy. 

Son of Atreus, brother of Agamemnon, husband of Helen, and king of Sparta. Telemachus visits him while searching for news of his father. Menelaus tells him about his own journey home from Troy and what he learned about Odysseus. 

Daughter of Zeus and Leda and wife of Menelaus. Her departure for Troy with Paris led to the Trojan War. When Telemachus visits Sparta, Helen recognizes him by his resemblance to Odysseus and recalls Odysseus’ actions during the war. 

King of Pylos and the oldest and most experienced of the Achaean leaders at Troy. Telemachus visits him in search of information about Odysseus. Nestor tells him what happened to several of the Greek leaders after the war. 

Son of Peleus and Thetis and the greatest of the Achaean warriors at Troy. Odysseus encounters his spirit in the land of the dead and speaks with him about life, death, and the achievements of his son Neoptolemus. 

Son of Telamon and one of the greatest Achaean warriors in the Trojan War. After Achilles’ death, Ajax and Odysseus competed for Achilles’ armour. Odysseus encounters Ajax in the land of the dead, but Ajax still resents him and refuses to speak.