| A | B |
|---|
| Homer | blind poet of ancient Greece credited as the author of the epic The Odyssey |
| Troy | also known as Ilium; famous city burned to the ground by Greeks in the Trojan War, located in modern day Turkey |
| Ithaca | Odysseus’ kingdom/home; island off west coast of Greece |
| Aeaea | home of Circe, the enchantress and goddess |
| Phaeacia | island kingdom ruled by Alcinous; Phaeacians are shipbuilders and traders |
| Thrinacia | island where the sun god Helios pastured his sacred cattle |
| Odysseus | Hero of The Odyssey; well-known for his strength and intellect ; King of Ithaca |
| Telemachus | son of Odysseus and Penelope ; goes on journey to find his father |
| Penelope | wife of Odysseus; mother of Telemachus; stays loyal to her husband, even with house full of suitors |
| Zeus | supreme ruler of the gods; he upheld law, justice and morals, and this made him the spiritual leader of both gods and men; known to throw lightning bolts |
| Athena | also known as Pallas Athena; birthed when sprung from Zeus’ head; goddess of storms, valiant battle and noble warriors, as well as wisdom |
| Calypso | beautiful nymph-goddess who keeps Odysseus seven years |
| Poseidon | god of the sea; god of earthquakes; father of Polyphemus |
| Helios | the sun god; drives chariot with sun through the sky daily; Odysseus' men eat his cattle |
| Hermes | the messenger god; relays message from Zeus to release Odysseus;known for his winged sandals |
| Polyphemus | Cyclops son of Poseidon; blinded by Odysseus |
| Circe | the sorceress who turns Odysseus’ men into swine; renowned for her knowledge of magic and poisonous herbs; daughter of the sun |
| Scylla | female monster with six serpent heads with a triple row of fangs |
| Charybdis | female monster who sucks in water three times a day to form a deadly whirlpool |
| Sirens | sea nymphs whose beautiful and mysterious music lures sailors to steer their ships toward dangerous rocks |
| Tiresias | blind prophet from Thebes; Odysseus is instructed to bring him up from the dead for advice/foresight |
