The Odyssey People and Places
Ithaca: the island kingdom of Odysseus; off the west coast of mainland Greece.
Characters in Ithaca: Penelope: Odysseus’ faithful wife Telemachus: Odysseus’ son Antinous: one of Penelope’s main suitors; an arrogan and mean young noble from Ithaca Eurymachus: suitor of Penelope Eurycleia: Odysseus’ old nurse; recognizes him by the scar on this thigh when he is disguised as a beggar
Characters that Cause Trouble: The Ladies Charybdis: monster that sucks in water three times a day to make a deadly cyclone/whirlpool Calypso: beautiful nymph goddess who keeps Odysseus on her island for 7 years Circe: enchantress and goddess who turns Odysseus’ men into swine/pigs Scylla: monster with 6 serpent heads each with a triple row of fangs Sirens: sea nymphs whose beautiful and mysterious music/singing lures sailors to steer their ship towards dangerous rocks/ a watery grave
Characters That Cause Trouble: The Gentlemen Polyphemus: Cyclops who is blinded by Odysseus. Son of the sea god Poseidon, and from a race of brutish, one-eyed giants who live solitary lives as shepherds Poseidon: the sea god. An adversary who puts storms in the way of Odysseus’ journey home.
Other Trouble Makers Cicones: people living on the southwestern coast of Thrace who battled Odysseus and his men on their journey. Lotus Eaters: people who feel Odysseus and his men lotus plants to make them forget Ithaca.
The Gods Zeus: The most powerful god. His home is Mount Olympus. Apollo: god of poetry, music, prophecy, medicine, and archery Athena: favorite daughter of Zeus; goddess of wisdom as well as arts and justice & war and peace. She favored the Greeks during the Trojan War. Cronus: Titan (giant god) who ruled the earth until his son Zeus overthrew him.
Gods continued… Poseidon (again!): god of the sea; brother of Zeus, enemy of Odysseus. Helios: sun god. Hephaestus: god of fire and metal working. Hermes: messenger god.