The Iliad

Poetry | Homer
Contents

Iliad Character

A
Achilles
Protagonist
Wrathful Proud Heroic Vengeful
The greatest hero of the Greeks and a demigod, son of the sea goddess Thetis. His wrath is the central focus of the Iliad. He embodies pride, vengeance, and heroism throughout the epic.
A
Agamemnon
Antagonist
Proud Power-hungry Authoritative Conflict-prone
Commander-in-Chief of the Greek army. His quarrel with Achilles over the captive Briseis sets the epic's central conflict in motion. He symbolizes leadership and the destructive nature of pride.
M
Menelaus
Supporting
Honor-driven Vengeful Loyal Determined
Brother of Agamemnon and husband of Helen. The Trojan War begins when Paris abducts his wife Helen. He symbolizes marital honor and the desire for revenge.
O
Odysseus
Supporting
Clever Resourceful Eloquent Strategic
A clever and resourceful Greek hero skilled in speech and strategy. He frequently proposes tactical solutions to the Greek commanders. He symbolizes wisdom and intelligence.
A
Ajax
Supporting
Also known as: Telamonian Ajax, Ajax the Greater
Physically powerful Brave Steadfast Imposing
A giant and immensely powerful Greek warrior renowned for his bravery. He duels Hector on the battlefield and serves as a bulwark for the Greek forces. He symbolizes physical strength and courage.
D
Diomedes
Supporting
Valiant Bold Divinely favored Fearless
A young and valiant Greek hero who, aided by Athena, performs extraordinary feats including battling gods on the battlefield. He symbolizes bravery, fate, and divine support.
N
Nestor
Supporting
Wise Experienced Advisory Prudent
The wise elder warrior among the Greeks who serves as advisor and mediator. His age grants him authority and perspective among the Greek commanders. He symbolizes experience and prudence.
P
Patroclus
Supporting
Loyal Self-sacrificing Compassionate Brave
The closest friend and companion of Achilles. He enters battle wearing Achilles' armor and is ultimately slain by Hector, an event that reignites Achilles' fury. He symbolizes friendship, sacrifice, and inspiration.
C
Calchas
Supporting
Prophetic Pious Insightful Reverent
The prophet of the Greek army who interprets the will of the gods. His pronouncements guide the Greeks in matters of divine favor and ritual. He symbolizes fate and religious rites.
P
Phoenix
Minor
Loyal Nurturing Persuasive Counseling
Teacher and guardian-like friend of Achilles who attempts to persuade him to return to battle. He represents a paternal influence on Achilles. He symbolizes loyalty and counsel.
I
Idomeneus
Minor
Brave Loyal Valiant Kingly
King of Crete and a brave warrior who is a loyal supporter of Agamemnon. He contributes reliably to the Greek war effort. He symbolizes valor and leadership.
M
Machaon
Minor
Skilled Healing Knowledgeable Dutiful
Healer and warrior, son of the god Asclepius, who treats wounded soldiers on the battlefield. He serves a vital support role among the Greeks. He symbolizes healing and knowledge.
P
Podalirius
Minor
Skilled Healing Preserving Dutiful
Brother of Machaon and also a skilled healer among the Greek forces. He aids in the recovery of wounded soldiers. He symbolizes recovery and the preservation of health.
T
Thersites
Minor
Outspoken Rebellious Satirical Ugly
A common soldier described as ugly and talkative who speaks out against the leaders, particularly insulting Agamemnon. He represents the voice of the common man against authority. He symbolizes rebellion and satire.
A
Automedon
Minor
Loyal Dutiful Devoted Serviceful
Charioteer of Achilles who later serves as a companion to Patroclus. He remains steadfastly loyal to Achilles throughout the epic. He symbolizes loyalty and service.
E
Eurypylus
Minor
Brave Enduring Sacrificing Wounded
A brave Greek warrior who sustains wounds in battle. His suffering illustrates the physical cost of war. He symbolizes pain and sacrifice.
P
Protesilaus
Minor
Fated Bold Doomed Courageous
The first Greek warrior to set foot on Trojan shores and the first to be slain. His death fulfills a prophecy about the war's beginning. He symbolizes fate and predestined death.
A
Antilochus
Minor
Valiant Youthful Self-sacrificing Devoted
The valiant son of Nestor who aids his father in battle. His death brings deep sorrow to Nestor and the Greek camp. He symbolizes youthful bravery and self-sacrifice.
H
Hector
Protagonist
Brave Responsible Humane Dutiful
Prince of Troy and its greatest warrior, son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. He is portrayed as brave, responsible, and deeply humane, fighting to protect his city and family. He kills Patroclus but is ultimately slain by Achilles, and symbolizes heroism and family duty.
P
Priam
Supporting
Kind Wise Dignified Paternal
King of Troy and father of Hector and Paris. Though an old and frail man, he displays remarkable courage by going personally to Achilles to beg for the return of Hector's body. He symbolizes paternal love and human dignity.
P
Paris
Antagonist
Also known as: Alexander
Handsome Cowardly Pleasure-loving Self-indulgent
Prince of Troy whose abduction of Helen from Menelaus caused the Trojan War. Despite his handsome appearance, he is portrayed as cowardly and pleasure-loving rather than a true warrior. He symbolizes beauty, desire, and cowardice.
H
Helen
Symbolic
Beautiful Conflicted Alluring Tragic
Wife of Menelaus who left with Paris, thereby sparking the Trojan War. Her extraordinary beauty makes her the object of conflict between Greeks and Trojans. She symbolizes beauty, attraction, and conflict.
A
Andromache
Supporting
Devoted Loving Sorrowful Maternal
Wife of Hector and mother of their young son Astyanax. She is deeply devoted to her husband and child, and her scenes with Hector poignantly illustrate the human cost of war. She symbolizes family love and the sorrow of war.
A
Aeneas
Supporting
Heroic Divinely favored Resilient Destined
A Trojan hero and son of the goddess Aphrodite who is saved multiple times by divine intervention. He later becomes the central figure of Roman mythology in Virgil's Aeneid. He symbolizes heroism and future destiny.
D
Deiphobus
Minor
Brave Warlike Dynastic Bold
A son of Priam and a brave Trojan warrior. In most traditions he takes Helen as his wife after the death of Paris. He symbolizes warfare and dynastic ties.
P
Polydamas
Supporting
Wise Cautious Strategic Advisory
Hector's close friend and advisor who frequently offers sound strategic counsel. Hector does not always heed his advice, often to Troy's detriment. He symbolizes wisdom and caution.
C
Cassandra
Symbolic
Prophetic Unheeded Tragic Insightful
Daughter of Priam gifted with the power of prophecy, yet cursed so that no one believes her predictions. Her warnings about Troy's doom go unheeded by all. She symbolizes truth and disbelief.
A
Agenor
Minor
Courageous Self-sacrificing Defiant Bold
A Trojan warrior who briefly stands against Achilles after Hector's death. His resistance, though ultimately futile, demonstrates remarkable courage. He symbolizes courage and self-sacrifice.
P
Polites
Minor
Young Royal Doomed Innocent
One of Priam's sons who is killed by Achilles in battle. His death contributes to the decimation of Troy's royal line. He symbolizes youth and the fall of Troy's dynasty.
L
Lycaon
Minor
Fated Unfortunate Doomed Merciful-seeking
Another son of Priam who was previously captured by the Greeks and released, only to be killed later by Achilles. His story illustrates the merciless nature of fate in war. He symbolizes fate and merciless death.
A
Astyanax
Symbolic
Innocent Young Doomed Vulnerable
The young son of Hector and Andromache. After the fall of Troy, he is killed by the Greeks to prevent him from growing up to seek revenge for his father. He symbolizes war's cruelty and the sacrifice of innocence.
G
Glaucus
Minor
Honorable Friendly Noble Chivalrous
A Trojan ally and prince of Lycia who meets Diomedes on the battlefield, only for both warriors to discover their ancestors were friends. Rather than fight, they exchange armor in a gesture of honor. He symbolizes friendship and honor.
S
Sarpedon
Minor
Heroic Brave Fated Divinely born
Son of Zeus and a brave ally of Troy who fights valiantly before being killed by Patroclus. His death is mourned even by his divine father Zeus. He symbolizes heroism, fate, and inevitable death.
A
Antenor
Minor
Wise Diplomatic Peace-seeking Elder
A wise elder counselor of Troy who frequently advocates for peace rather than continued war. His diplomatic perspective is rarely heeded by the Trojans. He symbolizes wisdom and diplomacy.
R
Rhesus
Minor
Unfortunate Ill-fated Allied Kingly
An allied king from Thrace whose famous horses are stolen during a daring night raid by Odysseus and Diomedes. His brief involvement in the war ends in sudden misfortune. He symbolizes sudden misfortune.
D
Dolon
Minor
Deceitful Cowardly Treacherous Ill-fated
A Trojan spy who is captured and killed by Odysseus and Diomedes during a night mission. His attempt at espionage ends in failure and death. He symbolizes deceit and failure.
P
Penthesilea
Minor
Also known as: Amazon Queen
Heroic Fierce Sacrificing Courageous
Queen of the Amazons and ally of Troy, more prominent in the later Epic Cycle traditions. She represents female martial prowess fighting in service of a doomed cause. She symbolizes female heroism and sacrifice.
Z
Zeus
Symbolic
Neutral Authoritative Fate-respecting Powerful
King of the gods and husband of Hera who generally attempts to remain neutral in the Trojan War, though he occasionally intervenes for the sake of his divine children. He holds ultimate authority and respects the decrees of fate and destiny.
A
Apollo
Supporting
Protective Partisan Powerful Prophetic
Son of Zeus and twin brother of Artemis, god of the sun, music, and prophecy. He actively supports and protects the Trojans and directly intervenes in battlefield combat against the Greeks.
A
Ares
Supporting
Warlike Destructive Partisan Bloodthirsty
God of war who sides with the Trojans throughout the conflict. His presence on the battlefield symbolizes the raw bloodshed and destruction of warfare.
P
Poseidon
Supporting
Interventionist Partisan Powerful Supportive
God of the sea and brother of Zeus who supports the Greeks and frequently intervenes directly in the fighting to aid them. His involvement tips the balance of battle in the Achaeans' favor at key moments.
H
Hephaestus
Supporting
Skilled Craftsman Supportive Creative
God of fire and blacksmithing who supports the Greeks by forging magnificent new armor and a shield for Achilles. His divine craftsmanship enables Achilles to return to battle.
Access Options
Download as PDF
From this writer
H
Homer
Literary Writer
More Characters

from Homer