Odysseus: The Return

by Valerio Massimo Manfredi

  Penelope – queen of Ithaca, daughter of Icarius and Polycaste of Sparta, wife to Odysseus, mother of Telemachus.

  Telemachus – prince of Ithaca, only son of Odysseus and Penelope.

  GODS, GODDESSES AND SUPERNATURAL BEINGS

  Aeolus – semi-god, master of the winds. King of the floating island of Aeolia.

  Aphrodite – goddess of love; she convinces Paris to name her the fairest of three goddesses (Athena, Aphrodite and Hera). In exchange she promises him he will possess the most beautiful woman in the world.

  Apollo – god of sun and light, an archer. God of prophecy. Sides with Troy in the Trojan War.

  Ares – god of war. On the side of the Trojans in the war.

  Athena – daughter of Zeus, from whose brain she sprang directly, fully armed. Goddess of wisdom and protectress of Odysseus.

  Atlas – the Titan who bore the world on his shoulders. Borea – the northern wind.

  Calypso – sea nymph, daughter of Atlas. Lady of the island of Ogygia

  Cerberus – three-headed dog of Hades.

  Chaera – personification of death.

  Echo – mountain nymph.

  Erebus – personification of darkness.

  Hades – god of the Underworld. Also, the Underworld itself.

  Helios – Sun god, sometimes identified with Apollo.

  Hephaestus – the blacksmith of the gods. Forges the armour of Achilles.

  Hera – sister and wife of Zeus. Protectress of the family and pregnant women. On the side of the Achaians in the Trojan War.

  Hypnos – god of sleep.

  Moirai – the three Fates, who control the thread of life of every mortal from birth to death.

  Periboea – Giant who generated the first ancestor of the Phaeacians with Poseidon.

  Persephone – daughter of Demetra, goddess of nature and the earth. Kidnapped by Hades, she lives six months in the Underworld with her husband and six months on the earth with her mother. Symbol of the seasons.

  Poseidon – brother of Zeus, son of Kronos. God of the sea and the ocean. Mortal enemy of Odysseus.

  Sirens – beautiful and dangerous female creatures with enchanting voices who lure sailors to wreck their ships.

  Thanatos – personification of Death.

  Zeus – father of all the gods, husband to Hera, son of Kronos. Personification of thunder and lightning.

  CHARACTERS

  Achilles – prince of Phthia, son of Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis. The greatest hero of the Achaian army. A prophecy foretold that he would have to choose between a long but obscure life or a short but glorious one.

  Admetus – king of Pherai in Thessaly, husband to Alcestis, father of Eumelus. Argonaut.

  Adrastus – king of Argus, father-in-law of Tydeus, grandfather of Diomedes.

  Aeetes – king of Colchis, father of Medea.

  Aegialia – wife of Diomedes.

  Aegisthus – lover of Clytaemnestra. Agamemnon’s murderer.

  Aeneas – prince of Dardania, son of Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite, cousin to Hector. Ally of Troy.

  Agamemnon – king of Mycenae, High King of the Achaians, son of Atreus, brother of Menelaus, husband to Clytaemnestra, father of Iphigenia.

  Ajax Oileus – prince of Locris, close friend of Great Ajax.

  Ajax son of Telamon (Great Ajax) – prince of Salamis, half-brother of Teucer, cousin to Achilles. The strongest hero of the Achaians after Achilles.

  Alcestis – queen of Pherai, wife to Admetus, mother of Eumelus. She accepts to die in her husband’s place and is saved by Hercules.

  Alcinous – father of Nausicaa. King of Scheria of the Phaeacians.

  Amphiaraus – seer, from Argus. One of the ‘Seven Against Thebes’. Argonaut.

  Anaxibia – queen of Phocis, daughter of Atreus, sister of Agamemnon and Menelaus.

  Anchises – king of Dardania, father of Aeneas.

  Andromache – princess of Hypoplacian Thebes, daughter of Eetion, wife of Hector, mother of Astyanax.

  Antenor – Trojan nobleman, advisor to King Priam. Mediator between the Trojans and the Achaians.

  Antilochus – prince of Pylos, son of Nestor, friend of Odysseus.

  Antinous – leader of the suitors of Penelope. Son of Eupites.

  Antiphus – comrade of Odysseus.

  Arete – mother of Nausicaa. Queen of the Phaeacians.

  Argonauts – Achaian heroes who took part in the expedition of the Argo, led by Jason of Iolcus, to conquer the golden fleece in Colchis. The sons of many Argonauts would go on to fight the Trojan War.

  Ariadne – Princess of Crete. Helped Theseus to find his way out of the Labyrinth using a thread of her making.

  Asclepius – legendary practitioner of the medical arts.

  Astyanax – infant son of Hector and Andromache.

  Atreidae – the house of Atreus.

  Atreides – one of the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon or Menelaus.

  Atreus – King of Mycenae, father of Agamemnon and Menelaus.

  Automedon – charioteer to Achilles and to Pyrrhus after Achilles’ death.

  Balius – one of Achilles’ divine horses, ‘the dappled’.

  Briseis – beloved concubine of Achilles, claimed by Agamemnon.

  Calchas – priest and seer, advisor to Agamemnon.

  Cassandra – princess of Troy, daughter of Priam and Hecuba, sister of Hector, Paris and Deiphobus. She was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, who loved her but was spurned by her; he thus cursed her so that her predictions would never be believed.

  Castor – prince of Sparta, son of Tyndareus and Leda, twin of Pollux, brother of Helen and Clytaemnestra. Argonaut, with his brother Pollux. According to a legend, Castor’s real father was Zeus, who appeared to his mother in the form of a swan.

  Cephalonians – Odysseus’ most valiant warriors, coming from the island of Same.

  Chryseis – daughter of high priest Chryses, taken as concubine by Agamemnon. His refusal to return her to her father set off a great plague and much strife in the Achaian camp.

  Ciconians – a tribe in Thrace.

  Cimmerians – mysterious people of uncertain origin. In the Odyssey, they live close to the entrance of Hades.

  Circe – Sister of Aeetes, King of Colchis. Lady of the island of Aeaea.

  Clytaemnestra – daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, sister of Castor, Pollux and Helen, wife to Agamemnon. According to a legend, her real father was Zeus, who appeared to her mother in the form of a swan.

  Damastes – trainer of Odysseus, a native of Thessaly.

  Deiphobus – prince of Troy, son of Priam and Hecuba, brother of Hector and Paris, husband to Helen after Paris’ death.

  Demodocus – blind singer and storyteller on the island of Scheria.

  Diomedes – king of Argus, son of Tydeus, husband to Aegialia, close friend of Odysseus. One of the strongest heroes of Achaia.

  Dolius – neighbour of Laertes on Ithaca.

  Eetion – king of Hypoplacian Thebes, father of Andromache.

  Elpenor – comrade of Odysseus who died on the island of Circes.

  Epeius – builder of the Trojan horse.

  Eumelus – prince of Pherai, son of Admetus and Alcestis.

  Eumeus – swineherd of Laertes, faithful to the royal family.

  Eupites – father of Antinous.

  Euribates – comrade of Odysseus.

  Euriclea – nurse to Odysseus, affectionately called ‘mai’ (grandmother) by him.

  Eurydice – queen of Pylos, wife to Nestor.

  Eurylochus – cousin of Odysseus and his second in command.

  Eurymachus – one of Odysseus’ comrades in the Trojan horse.

  Eurymachus – the second most powerful of Penelope’s suitors, after Antinous.

  Eurystheus – usurper of the throne of Mycenae, cousin of Hercules.

  Euthymides – youngest son of Eupites.

  Hector – prince of Troy, eldest son of Priam and Hecuba, brothe
r of Paris and Deiphobus, husband to Andromache, father of Astyanax. Killed in a duel with Achilles.

  Hecuba – queen of Troy, wife of Priam, mother of Hector, Deiphobus, Paris, Cassandra, Polyxena.

  Helen – queen of Sparta, daughter of Tyndareus and Leda of Sparta, sister of Clytaemnestra, Castor and Pollux, wife to Menelaus, Paris and Deiphobus. According to a legend, Helen’s real father was Zeus, who appeared to her mother in the form of a swan.

  Hercules – son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene, cousin of Eurystheus, who condemned him to perform the twelve labours. Argonaut.

  Hermione – daughter of Menelaus and Helen.

  Icarius – brother of Tyndareus of Sparta, husband to Polycaste, father of Penelope.

  Ideus – herald of Priam.

  Idomeneus – king of Crete. Member of the expedition to Troy.

  Iphigenia – daughter of Agamemnon and Clytaemnestra.

  Iphitus – brother of Eurystheus, king of Mycenae. Argonaut.

  Jason – prince of Iolcus, leader of the Argonauts, husband to Medea.

  Laestrygonians – tribe of man-eating giants inhabiting the city of Telepylus who destroyed Odysseus’ fleet.

  Laocoon – Trojan priest.

  Lapiths – a tribe of Thessaly, renowned for their physical size and prowess.

  Leda – queen of Sparta, wife of Tyndareus, mother of Castor, Pollux, Helen and Clytaemnestra. Legendary lover of Zeus.

  Leodes – one of the suitors of Penelope.

  Lycomedes – king of Scyros, grandfather of Neoptolemus (Pyrrhus).

  Makahon – surgeon and warrior of Achaian army, pupil of Asclepius.

  Medea – princess of Colchis, daughter of Aeetes, wife to Jason. Enchantress.

  Megara – queen of Mycenae, wife to Eurystheus.

  Melanippus – defender of Thebes, killed by Tydeus.

  Melanthius – a goatherd on Ithaca, faithful to suitors.

  Mélantho – maidservant in Odysseus’ house, lover of Antinous.

  Meleager – king of Aetolia, father-in-law of Protesilaus. Argonaut.

  Memnon – king of the Ethiopians who killed Antilochus, son of Nestor.

  Menelaus – king of Sparta, son of Atreus, brother of Agamemnon, husband to Helen. He demands that all the Achaian kings and princes honour their oath to defend his honour when Helen is abducted by Paris, provoking the Trojan War.

  Menestheus – king of Athens, member of the expedition to Troy.

  Mentes – chief of the Taphians.

  Mentor – tutor of Odysseus, advisor to King Laertes.

  Myrmidons – warriors of Phthia in Thessaly, commanded by Achilles.

  Neoptolemus (Pyrrhus) – son of Achilles and princess Deidamia of Scyros. After his father’s death, he enters the Trojan War. Famed for his ferocity and ruthlessness.

  Nestor – wise king of Pylos, husband to Eurydice, father of Antilochus and Pisistratus. Also known as the Knight of Gerene. The great advisor of the Achaian heroes.

  Oedipus – king of Thebes. Married his mother and killed his father. His two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, killed each other in a duel over the throne.

  Oileus – king of Locris, father of Ajax Oileus. Argonaut.

  Paris – prince of Troy, son of Priam and Hecuba, brother of Hector, Deiphobus and Cassandra, husband of Helen after Menelaus. His abduction of Helen sets off the Trojan War.

  Patroclus – cousin and trusted companion of Achilles. Killed in battle by Hector.

  Peirithous – king of the Lapiths, a Thessalian tribe. Argonaut.

  Peleus – king of Phthia, husband to Thetis, brother of Telamon, father of Achilles. Argonaut.

  Pelias – king of Iolcus, father of Alcestis. Usurped the throne of Aeson and sent Jason in search of the golden fleece.

  Perimedes – trusted comrade of Odysseus.

  Phaeacians – population who migrated to the island of Scheria from Hypereia, led by King Nausithous.

  Phemius – court poet of Laertes.

  Philoctetes – king of Malis, famed as an archer. Member of the expedition to Troy.

  Philoetius – a cowherd on Ithaca, faithful to Odysseus.

  Pisistratus – prince of Pylos, youngest son of Nestor and Eurydice.

  Polites – comrade of Odysseus.

  Pollux – prince of Sparta, son of Tyndareus and Leda, twin of Castor, brother of Helen and Clytaemnestra. Argonaut, with his brother Castor. According to a legend, their real father was Zeus, who appeared to his mother in the form of a swan.

  Polycaste – wife of Icarius, mother of Penelope.

  Polyxena – princess of Troy, youngest daughter of Priam and Hecuba. Sacrificed by Pyrrhus on the tomb of Achilles.

  Priam – king of Troy, husband to Hecuba, father of Hector, Paris, Deiphobus, Cassandra, Polyxena and many other sons and daughters. Killed and decapitated by Pyrrhus on the night of the Fall of Troy.

  Protesilaus – Thessalian king, the first Achaian to die in the Trojan War.

  Pyrrhus (Neoptolemus) – son of Achilles and princess Deidamia of Scyros. After his father’s death, he enters the Trojan War. Famed for his ferocity and ruthlessness.

  Sinon – friend and comrade of Odysseus, persuades Trojans to pull the horse into the city.

  Sthenelus – Argive prince, charioteer of Diomedes.

  Taphians – population of pirates, of uncertain origin.

  Telamon – king of Salamis, brother of Peleus, father of Great Ajax and Teucer. Argonaut.

  Teucer – son of Telamon and Hesione (sister of Priam), half-brother of Great Ajax. Famous archer, member of the expedition to Troy.

  Theoclymenus – a seer who fled from Argus after killing a man. He predicts the Day of the Black Sun and the slaughter of the suitors.

  Theseus – king of Athens, killer of the Minotaur.

  Thetis – wife to Peleus, mother of Achilles. Said to be a sea goddess or nymph.

  Thoas – king of Calydon, killer of the boar of Calydon. Odysseus’ comrade in the wooden horse.

  Thyestes – twin brother of Atreus.

  Tiresias – a seer from Thebes. Odysseus calls up his soul from Hades to learn about his destiny.

  Trasimachus – comrade of Odysseus.

  Tydeus – Argive prince, father of Diomedes. Ruthless warrior, killed in battle at Thebes after slaying Melanippus. Argonaut.

  Tyndareus – king of Sparta, husband to Leda, father of Castor and Pollux, Helen and Clytaemnestra, although according to a legend, their real father was Zeus, who appeared to their mother Leda in the form of a swan.

  Xanthus – one of Achilles’ divine horses, ‘the blond’.

  Zetes and Calais – the Boreads, sons of the wind. Argonauts.

  GEOGRAPHY

  Acarnania – region of south-western Greece, facing Ithaca, ruled by Autolykos, Odysseus’ grandfather.

  Achaia – an area generally corresponding to Greece. Land of the Achaians.

  Acheron – river in Ephyra, said to be a gateway to Hades.

  Aetolia – region in western Greece ruled by Meleager.

  Andros – island lying next to and south-east of Euboea.

  Arcadia – mountainous region in the central Peloponnese where the Sanctuary of the Wolf King is located.

  Argolis – region of Argus in the eastern Peloponnese.

  Argus – city in Argolis ruled by Diomedes, after Adrastus. ‘Argus’ means ‘shining’ city.

  Arne – city of eastern Greece.

  Asteria – small island in the channel between Ithaca and Same (Cephalonia).

  Athens – main city of Attica, ruled by Theseus and Aegeus before him.

  Attica – region of central eastern Achaia that includes Athens.

  Aulis – bay and port in Boeotia where the Achaian army assembles for the assault on Troy.

  Boeotia – region of Thebes, where Aulis is located.

  Calydon – city of Aetolia, famous for the hunt of the Calydon boar, in which all the major Achaian heroes of the Argonaut generation took part.

&n
bsp; Caucasus, Mount – mountain of Colchis.

  Chalcis – city of Euboea.

  Cimmeria – land of the Cimmerians. The mouth of Hades was said to be found here.

  Colchis – region between Caucasus and Pontus Euxinus (the Black Sea), ruled by king Aeetes. Place where the ‘golden fleece’ was guarded by a dragon.

  Corinth – city on the isthmus that connects the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf.

  Crete – island ruled by Idomeneus.

  Cythera – island in the south of the Peloponnese, near Cape Malea.

  Dardania – region of north-western Anatolia, near Troy, kingdom of Anchises, ally of Troy.

  Dulichium – island, part of the kingdom of Odysseus.

  Elis – region of the north-western Peloponnese.

  Ephyra – place in Aetolia where an entrance to Hades was located.

  Euboea – the biggest island of Greece, after Crete.

  Eurotas – the river of Sparta.

  Gythium – port of Sparta on the Laconian Gulf.

  Haemos, Mount – mountain chain in the far north, where storm winds were said to originate. Lately identified with the Carpathians.

  Hypereia – ancestral homeland of the Phaeacians.

  Hypoplacian Thebes – city south of the Troad, ruled by Eetion, ally of Troy.

  Iberia – modern Spain.

  Ida, Mount – mountain south of Troy.

  Ilium – the ancient name of Troy.

  Iolcus – city of Thessaly, ruled by Pelias, port of the Argonauts.

  Ismarus – city in the land of the Ciconians.

  Ithaca – island in the Ionian sea, ruled by Odysseus, and Laertes before him.

  Knossos – capital of Crete.

  Laconian Gulf – the gulf between Cape Malea and Cape Tainaron.

  Lemnos – island in the north Aegean sea.

  Leucas – island, part of the kingdom of Odysseus.

  Locris – region in western Greece, homeland of Ajax Oileus.

  Malea – cape in the south-east of the Peloponnese, notoriously difficult and dangerous to navigate.

  Messenia – kingdom of Nestor in the south-western Peloponnese.

  Mycenae – city of Argolis ruled by Agamemnon, after Eurystheus and Atreus.

  Nemea – city of Argolis where Hercules killed the Nemean lion.