Humanities Literature Vail/Graff

Who’s Who and What’s What in Homer’s Odyssey

In Ithaca

Telemachos: Odysseus’ son

Penelopeia: Odysseus’ wife

Laertes: Odysseus’ father

Argos: Odysseus’ faithful dog

108 suitors, led by Antinoos, Eurymachos, and Amphinomos

two men whom Athena uses for disguises:

Mentes: an old friend of Odysseus’ family

Mentor: Telemachos’ tutor

members of the lower classes/slaves:

Eurycleia: Odysseus’ ancient nurse

Melanthios: the goatherd

Eumaios: the swineherd

Philiotios: the drover

Phemios: the minstrel

Iros: the beggar

Medon: the marshall or butler

In Pylos

King Nestor: veteran of Troy noted for wisdom

Peisistratos: his son who travels with Telemachos

In Sparta/Lacedaimon:

King Menelaos

Queen Helen (of Troy)

Proteus: “The Old Man of the Sea”—minor god who changes shape at will

Theoclymenos: young prophet who travels with Telemachos

Odysseus’ Adventures

1. The Ciconians: cattle raid immediately after fall of Troy
2. The Lotus-Eaters
3. The Clyclops: Polyphemus, son of Poseidon
4. Aiolia, the Island of the Winds; King Aiolos
5. The Laistrygonians: hostile giants
6. Aiaia, home of Circe. Note Odysseus’ men: Eurylochos, the trouble-maker, and Elpenor, who drinks.
7. Erebos, the realm of Hades and Persephoneia; among the famous people Odysseus meets here note:
1. Teiresias: the blind prophet (remember him?)
2. Achilles: the great Greek hero of the Iliad and the Trojan War
3. Anticleia: Oddyseus’ mother
4. Tityos, Tantalos, Sisyphos: sinners receiving punishment
8. The Sirens: what is their temptation?
9. Scylla (hydra-headed) and Charybdis (the whirlpool)
10. Island of the sun god Helios (or Hyperion)
11. Ogygia, island home of Calypso: and what does she offer?
12. Phaiacia: King Alcinoos; Queen Arete; Princess Nausicaa
1. Ino, minor goddess, helps Odysseus reach Phaiacia

In Troy

King Priam

Queen Hecuba

Prince Paris

Prince Hector

In Mycenae: the House of Atreus

King Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks at Troy (Menelaos’ brother)

Queen Clytaimnestra (Helen’s sister)

Agisthos, his cousin and murderer

Orestes, his son and avenger

Cassandra, the Trojan princess he brings home from the war