Gods and Goddesses [Roman names are given in brackets]
Apollo: Son of Zeus and Leto; favors the Trojans. Ares [Mars]: Son of Zeus; favors the Trojans. Athena [Minerva]: Daughter of Zeus; favors Greeks. Hades Son of Kronos; ruler of the underworld of the dead. Hephaestos [Vulcan]: Son of Zeus and Hera; favors the Greeks. Hermes [Mercury]: Son of Zeus; favors the Trojans. Messenger of the gods. Persephone [Proserpina]: Daughter of Demeter [Ceres] and queen of the underworld. Poseidon [Neptune]: Son of Kronos; king of the sea; favors the Trojans. Zeus [Jupiter, Jove]: Son of Kronos [Saturn]; king of the gods and ruler of the sky; arbiter of human destiny. Favored the Greeks just a bit!!) Lesser Divinities Aeolos: Son of Hippotas; keeper of the winds. Kalypso: Daughter of Atlas; island nymph on Ogygia. Kirke: Daughter of the Sun; goddess of the wild; enchantress. Eidothea: Daughter of Proteus, sea-nymph. Proteus: Old man of the sea, one of the gods deposed by Zeus.
Family and Household of Odysseus Elpenor: Youngest sailor with Odysseus.
Eumaios: Son of Ctesius; keeper of Odysseus’ swine. Eurykleia: Daughter of Ops; old nurse of Odysseus and Telemachus. Eurylokhos: Husband of Odysseus’ sister; sailor with Odysseus. Eurynome: Head maid and housekeeper. Laertes: Son of Arceisius; aged father of Odysseus. Medon: Herald. Melantho: Daughter of Dolius; favored maid of Penelope. Menlanthris: Son of Dolius; keeper of the goats. Mentor: Friend and steward of Odysseus. Odysseus [Ulysses]: Son of Laertes; king of Ithaca. Phemios: Son of Terpes, minstrel in the house. Philoetius: Keeper of the cattle. Telemakhos: Son of Odysseus and Penelope.
Men of Ithaca and Suitors for the Hand of Penelope
Aegyptius: Aged lord in Ithaka. Agelaus: Son of Damastor; suitor from Ithaka. Amphimedon: Son of Menanus; suitor from Ithaka. Amphinomus: Son of Nisus; suitor from Dulichium. Antinoos: Son of Eupeithes; leader of the suitors. Eupeithes: Lord in Ithaka. Eurymakhos: Son of Polybus; suitor from Ithaka. Halitherses: Son of Mastor; seer and prophet. Irus: Town beggar. Leiocritus: Son of Evenor; suitor from Ithaca. Leiodes: Son of Oenops; soothsayer for the suitors. Noemon: Son of Phromius; ship owner. Piraeus: Son of Clytius; trusty friend of Telemachus.
Persons Met by Telemakhos on his trip to the Mainland
Helen: Daughter of Zeus and Leda; wife of Menelaos, brought back from Troy. Menelaos: Son of Atreus; king of Sparta, returned from Troy. Nestor: Son of Neleus; aged king of Pylos, returned from Troy. Pisistratus: Son of Nestor. Theoclymenus: Son of Polypheides; fugitive seer from Argos, received by Telemakhos.
Dwellers in the Land of Phaiakians
Alkinoos: Son of Nausithous; king of the Phaiakians in Scheria. Arete: Daughter of Rhexenor; wife of Alcinous and queen of the Phaiacians. Demodokos: Blind bard at Alcinous’ court. Euryalus: Son of Naubolus; Phaeacian noble. Laodamas: Eldest son of Alcinous and Arete. Nausikaa: Youngest daughter of Alcinous and Arete.
Monsters and Other Inhuman Beings
Antiphates: King of the cannibal Laestrygonians. Kharybdis: A whirlpool which draws vessels to their doom. Polyphemos: Son of Poseidon; giant Kykiops and ogre. Skylla: Daughter of Crataiis; six-headed monster and man eater. Two Sirens: Fatal beguilers of men with their singing.
Spirits of the Dead in the House of Hades
Akhilles: Son of Peleus; hero of the Iliad. Agamemnon: Son of Atreus; king of the Greeks at Troy. Ajax: Greater Ajax; son of Telamon, killed at Troy. Antikleia: Daughter of Autolycus; wife of Laertes and mother of Odysseus. Epicaste: Also called Jocasta; mother and wife of Oedipus, king of Thebes. New Arrivals: Spirits of Elpenor and of the suitors. Patroclos: Son of Menoetius; comrade of Achilles. Shade of Heracles [Hercules]: Son of Zues; heroic laborer for mankind. Sisyphos: Spirit tormented in punishment. Tantalos: Spirit tormented in punishment. Teiresias: Blind prophet of Thebes. Tityus: Spirit tormented in punishment.