| A | B |
|---|
| Odysseus | This epic is the story of his journey home from the Trojan war. He is brave, loyal and very clever. He is king of Ithaca |
| Penelope | She is the faithful, loyal wife of Odysseus. She is Homer's example of the perfect Greek wife and mother in her patient loyalty of 20 years |
| Telemachus | Son of Odysseus and Penelope. He was an infant when Odysseus left for the Trojan War. The epic is also a story about his journey to manhood |
| Antinous | The evil leader of the suitors. He is the 1st one Odysseus kills. |
| Eumaeus | A loyal servant of Odysseus, who helps him fight the suitors with Philoetius |
| Eurycleia | An old woman servant , a devoted nurse to both Odysseus and Telemachus in their youth |
| Eurymachus | A suitor who is an evil coward. He tries to blame Antiniousfor all of the suitors actions. He is killed 2nd. |
| Irus | The favorite beggar of the suitors. He is cruel to the disguised Odysseus. |
| Laertes | Father of Odysseus, he lives on a farm some distnce away. |
| Melantho | A servant girl who has been disloyal to Odysseus by becoming the mistress of the evil Eurymachus. |
| Melanthius | A servant of Odysseus who has betrayed him by assisting the suitors. |
| Melenaus | King of Sparta, and a comrade to Odysseus during the Trojan War. Helen was his wife. |
| Nestor | King of Pylos, he fought at troy with Odysseus and known for his wise counsel. |
| Philoetlus | A loyal servant to Odysseus, he and Eumaeus help Odysseus to fight the suitors. |
| Tiresias | Odysseus goes to Hades to consult with this famous, deceased Greek prophet. |
| Alcinous | King of the Phaecians and to whom Odysseus tells his story |
| Calypso | See goddess who loved Odysseus |
| Circe | the enchantress who helped Odysseus |
| Zeus | King of the gods |
| Apollo | God of music, poetry, prophecy, medicine |
| Agamemnon | King and leader of Greek forces |
| Poseidon | God the sea, earthquakes, horses, and storms at sea |
| Athena | Goddess of wisdom, skills, warfare |
| Polyphemus | Cyclops |
| Cronus | Zeus's father, titan ruler of the universe |
| Perimedes | a member of Odysseus's crew |
| Eurylochus | another member of Odysseus's crew |
| Persephone | Wife of Hades |
| Sirens | creatures of the sea who sing and lure sailors to their deaths |
| Scylla | a sea monster gray rock |
| Charybdis | enormous and dangerous whirlpool |
| Lampetia | a nymph |
| Hermes | messenger of the gods |
| Amphinomus | a suitor |
| Eurynome | Penelope's housekeeper |
