CHARACTERS IN THE ODYSSEY (version adapted by Gillian Cross)
Odysseus - the protagonist and hero of the story who journeys home from Troy to Ithaca while facing a myriad of challenges, ultimately regaining his place as king
Telemachus - Odysseus's son who supports his father in his quest to regain his palace and rule over Ithaca
Penelope - Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus who stays loyal to Odysseus during his twenty years away from home
Athena - goddess of wisdom and war who helps Odysseus on his quest to return home and resume his position
Poseidon - god of the sea who tries to steer Odysseus's ship off course whenever possible as revenge for what Odysseus did to his son, the Cyclops
Antinous - leader of Penelope's suitors who plots to kill Telemachus, is rude to a disguised Odysseus and ultimately dies from an arrow to the throat
Eurymachus - another suitor who revolts against Odysseus only to be killed
Amphinomus - a kinder suitors who Odysseus tries to convince to leave but still dies in the battle
Eumaeus - loyal swineherd who helps Odysseus when he finally arrives home
Eurycleia - old servant to Odysseus and Penelope who recognizes Odysseus by the scar on his foot
Calypso - beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus and holds him prisoner there for seven years
Polyphemus - one of the Cyclops (one-eyed giants) who is blinded by Odysseus as Odysseus escapes from his cave
Circe - goddess who transforms Odysseus's crew into pigs, makes Odysseus her lover, and gives him advice for his journey
Laertes - Odysseus's aging father who lost his wife to grief
Tiresias - prophet in the underworld who tells Odysseus he will one day return to Ithaca
Nestor - King of Pylos who assists Telemachus in finding information as to Odysseus's whereabouts.
Menelaus - King of Sparta who offers Telemachus assistance in his quest to find Odysseus
Nausicaa - daughter of King Alcinous who discovers Odysseus on the beach and gives him a warm reception at her parents' palace
Alcinous - King of the Phaeacians who offers Odysseus hospitality, hears the story of Odysseus's journey, and provides him with safe passage back home
Sirens - Women who live on an island and lure men to thier doom by singing about the men's pasts.
The Suitors - Princes and lords who are in Odysseus' palace and want to marry Penelope, Odysseus' loyal wife.
The Lotus Eaters - People who eat a plant that makes them forget about home and want to stay there to eat more.
Scylla - a six-headed monster that snatches six men, one for each of her heads, whenever a ship sails by.
Charybdis - A giant whirlpool monster that swallows Odysseus' ship when he is returning from Thrinacia. She is opposite Scylla. Charybdis opens for a period of time, and closes for an equal amount of time.
Odysseus - the protagonist and hero of the story who journeys home from Troy to Ithaca while facing a myriad of challenges, ultimately regaining his place as king
Telemachus - Odysseus's son who supports his father in his quest to regain his palace and rule over Ithaca
Penelope - Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus who stays loyal to Odysseus during his twenty years away from home
Athena - goddess of wisdom and war who helps Odysseus on his quest to return home and resume his position
Poseidon - god of the sea who tries to steer Odysseus's ship off course whenever possible as revenge for what Odysseus did to his son, the Cyclops
Antinous - leader of Penelope's suitors who plots to kill Telemachus, is rude to a disguised Odysseus and ultimately dies from an arrow to the throat
Eurymachus - another suitor who revolts against Odysseus only to be killed
Amphinomus - a kinder suitors who Odysseus tries to convince to leave but still dies in the battle
Eumaeus - loyal swineherd who helps Odysseus when he finally arrives home
Eurycleia - old servant to Odysseus and Penelope who recognizes Odysseus by the scar on his foot
Calypso - beautiful nymph who falls in love with Odysseus and holds him prisoner there for seven years
Polyphemus - one of the Cyclops (one-eyed giants) who is blinded by Odysseus as Odysseus escapes from his cave
Circe - goddess who transforms Odysseus's crew into pigs, makes Odysseus her lover, and gives him advice for his journey
Laertes - Odysseus's aging father who lost his wife to grief
Tiresias - prophet in the underworld who tells Odysseus he will one day return to Ithaca
Nestor - King of Pylos who assists Telemachus in finding information as to Odysseus's whereabouts.
Menelaus - King of Sparta who offers Telemachus assistance in his quest to find Odysseus
Nausicaa - daughter of King Alcinous who discovers Odysseus on the beach and gives him a warm reception at her parents' palace
Alcinous - King of the Phaeacians who offers Odysseus hospitality, hears the story of Odysseus's journey, and provides him with safe passage back home
Sirens - Women who live on an island and lure men to thier doom by singing about the men's pasts.
The Suitors - Princes and lords who are in Odysseus' palace and want to marry Penelope, Odysseus' loyal wife.
The Lotus Eaters - People who eat a plant that makes them forget about home and want to stay there to eat more.
Scylla - a six-headed monster that snatches six men, one for each of her heads, whenever a ship sails by.
Charybdis - A giant whirlpool monster that swallows Odysseus' ship when he is returning from Thrinacia. She is opposite Scylla. Charybdis opens for a period of time, and closes for an equal amount of time.
