Odyssey Characters

Question 1

Amphinomous

Answer 1

Suitor killed by Telemachus

Question 2

Eumaeus

Answer 2

Loyal swine herd

Question 3

Eurycleia

Answer 3

Loyal maid, discovers Odysseus’ scar when bathing him, when he was disguised as a beggar

Question 4

Melantho

Answer 4

Odysseus’ disloyal maidservant - abuses beggar. Sister of Melanthius

Question 5

Melanthius

Answer 5

Brother of Melantho. Goatherd who supports suitors and provides them with weapons in the fight

Question 6

Calypso

Answer 6

Nymph who keeps Odysseus captive on her island called Ogygia for 7 years

Question 7

Polyphemus

Answer 7

Cyclops, son of Poseidon, blinded by Odysseus in book 9 for eating Odysseus’ men. Puts a curse of Odysseus
“Let him return home late…let him find trouble in his home”

Question 8

Circe

Answer 8

Immortal witch - potion turns men into pigs - Odysseus stays with her for one year

Question 9

Laertes

Answer 9

Odysseus’ father and lives on a farm in Ithaca

Question 10

Teiresias

Answer 10

Theban prophet - inhabits the underworld. Shows Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca

Question 11

Agamemnon

Answer 11

Commander of the Achaean forces at Troy - Odysseus meets him in the underworld

Question 12

Nausicaa

Answer 12

Daughter of Alcinous and Arete- discovers Odysseus in book 6

Question 13

Alcinous

Answer 13

King of Phaeacia - Offers Odysseus Xenia

Question 14

Arete

Answer 14

Queen of Phaeacia. Wife of Alcinous, Odysseus clasps her knees in supplication

Question 15

Iphitus

Answer 15

Gives Odysseus the bow

Question 16

Antiphates

Answer 16

Laestrygonian queen

Question 17

Aeolus

Answer 17

Gives Odysseus a bag of winds. Odysseus stays with him for one month

Question 18

Demodocus

Answer 18

The bard

Question 19

Philoetius

Answer 19

Loyal cowherd

Question 20

Odysseus

Answer 20

The protagonist

Question 21

Telemachus

Answer 21

Odysseus and Penelope’s son, natural obstacle for the suitors

Question 22

Penelope

Answer 22

Wife of Odysseus, mother of Telemachus. Homer portrays her as flighty and excitable but she’s also clever and strategic

Question 23

Athene

Answer 23

Goddess of wisdom, war, womanly arts

Question 24

Poseidon

Answer 24

God of the sea. Angry at Odysseus for blinding his son, Polyphemus. Holds back Odysseus’ return

Question 25

Zeus

Answer 25

God of the gods. Sometimes helps Odysseus and permits Athene to do the same

Question 26

Antinous

Answer 26

Arrogant suitor and leads campaign to kill Telemachus. Killed by Odyssus, first suitor to die

Question 27

Ino

Answer 27

River goddess. Gives Odysseus a veil in book five to help in the storm. Gives instructions to tie it around his waist and throw it back when he gets to shore

Question 28

Who does Odysseus meet in the Underworld

Answer 28

Heracles, Sisyphus, Tityus, King Minos, Agamemnon, Elpenor, Anticleia, Ajax, Teiresias, Tantalus, Orion

Question 29

Anticleia

Answer 29

Odysseus’ mother - dies of a broken heart longer for her sons return. Odysseus meets her in the underworld

Question 30

Elpenor

Answer 30

One of Odysseus’ comrades - got drunk and fell of the roof and broke his neck. Odysseus meets him in the underworld. Given a proper burial

Question 31

Eurymachus

Answer 31

Manipulative, deceitful suitor. Tells that Antinous was behind everything

Question 32

Scylla

Answer 32

Six headed monster in book 12. Eats six of Odysseus’ men

Question 33

Charybdis

Answer 33

Whirlpool in book 12

Question 34

Cicones

Answer 34

Short episode in book 9, live on Ismarus but killed 72 of Odysseus’ men

Question 35

Hermes

Answer 35

Messenger God. Tells Calypso to release Odysseus in book 5, gives Odysseus moly in book 10 to stop Circes potion from working on him