Who’s Who in the Iliad

The Greeks [Greeks are also called Achaeans, Danaans, or Argives]

Achilles:

Son of Peleus and the sea nymph Thetis; grandson of Aeacus, son of ZEUS; chief of the Myrmidons

Agamemnon:

Leader of the Greeks.

Calchas:

Son of Thestor; seer and interpreter of omens.

Helen:

Wife of Menelaus, seduced by Paris.

Menelaus:

Husband of Helen--king of Sparta

Odysseus:

Son of Laertes and husband of Penelope; king of Ithaca and leader of Cephallenians.

Patroclus:

Comrade and squire of Achilles.

The Trojans – “Ilium” is another name for Troy

Aeneas:

Son of Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite; leader of the Dardanians.

Andromache:

Wife of Hector

Cassandra:

Daughter of Priam and Hecuba; a prophet.

Hector:

Son of Priam; commander of the Trojan army.

Hecuba:

Wife of Priam; queen of Troy.

Paris:

Also called Alexander, son of Priam; seducer of Helen.

Priam:

King of Troy.

Gods and Goddesses [Roman names are given in brackets]

Apollo: A god--Zeus’s son--favors the Trojans.

Athena [Minerva]: A goddess-Zeus’s daughter--favors Greeks.

Hera [Juno]: A goddess--wife of Zeus; queen of the Gods--favors the Greeks.

Thetis: A sea nymph, wedded to a mortal, Peleus; mother of Achilles.

ZEUS [Jupiter, Jove]: King of the gods and ruler of the sky; arbiter of human destiny.