| A | B |
|---|
| Aegyptius | A chieftain of Ithaca: speaks at the Assembly in Book II. |
| Aeolus | A mortal whom Zeus has appointed keeper of the winds. |
| Agamemnon | King of Mycenae; leader of Achaean expedition to Troy. |
| Alcinous | King of Phaeacians, husband of Arete, father of Nausicaa; generous, kind, and good-humored. |
| Antinous | Leader of suitors slain by Odysseus; cruel, greedy, hypocritical villian. |
| Anticleia | Mother of Odysseus; encounters him in Hades. |
| Arete | Queen of Phaeacians; wife of Alcinous; mother of Nausicaan. |
| Argus | Old hunting dog of Odysseus; recognizes his master and dies. |
| Athene | Daughter of Zeus, goddess of wisdom, Patron of arts and crafts; known as Pallas. |
| Calypso | Sea nymph keeps Odysseus captive for nine years; hopes to make him her husband; offers him immortality. |
| Circe | Enchantress transforms Odysseus' crew into swine; then takes Odysseus as a lover. |
| Demodocus | Blind bard entertains at banquets in palace of Alcinous. |
| Elepnor | Seaman in crew of Odysseus; dies in accident on Circe; reproaches Odysseus in Hades. |
| Eumaeus | Chief swineherd of Odysseus; remains faithful to his master; assists him in regaining kingdom. |
| Eupeithes | Father of Antinous; leads an attack on Odysseus, but quickly apologizes. |
| Eurycleia | Faithful, devoted old nurse of Odysseus; recognizes scar on his leg. |
| Eurylochus | Officer of Odysseus; wisely avoids entering Circe's palace; helps sailors slaughter the cattle of Helios. |
| Eurymachus | Second most important suitor; evil as Antinous; soft & cowardly. |
| Helen | Wife of Menelaus; king of Sparta. She caused the Trojan War. |
| Hermes | Son of Zeus; ambassador of gods; sent souls to Hades; patron of travelers, merchants, & thieves. |
| Hyperion | God of Sun; known as Helios; cattle is eaten by Odysseus' crew. |
| Irus | Cowardly bully; beggar on Ithaca; favorite of many suitors. |
| Laertes | Old father of Odysseus; lives in isolation in the hills of Ithaca; alert and agile. |
| Leucothoie | Sea nymph; helps Odysseus rid island of Phaeacians during storm. |
| Melantho | Serving maid in palace of Odysseus; nasty young girl; disloyal; became mistress of Eurymachus. |
| Melanthius | Chief goatherd of Odysseus; ingratiated himself with suitors while his master was absent. |
| Menelaus | King of Sparta; husband of Helen; brother of Agamemnon. |
| Mentor | Faithful friend of Odysseus; left behind on Ithaca as Telemachus' tutor; wise & loyal. |
| Nausicaa | Daughter of Alcinous & Arete; charming young maiden. |
| Nestor | King of Pylos; father of Peisistratus. Wise & garrulous old man; survived Trojan War. |
| Odysseus | King of Ithaca; husband of Penelope; father of Telemachus, son of Laertes; known for his brain and muscle. |
| Peisistratus | Gallant young son of Nestor; Companion of Telemachus on journey through Peloponnesus. |
| Penelope | Wife of Odysseus; serious & industrious; perfect wife & mother. |
| Philoetius | Chief cowherd of Odyseeus; brave, loyal & stood beside his master during battle with suitors. |
