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GLOSSARY

AGAMEMNON

King of Mycenae; Greek leader at Troy, murdered by his wife Klytaimnestra on his return home; brother of Menelaos.

AGELAOS

One of the suitors of Penelope.

AIAIA

Kirke's island.

AIAS

Greek hero at Troy, drowned on the return trip after defying the gods. Name also spelled Ajax.

AIGISTHOS

Klytaimnestra's lover; usurper of Agamemnon's throne at Mycenae.

AIOLOS

King of the winds.

AKHAIANS

Homer's name for the Greeks (as opposed to the Trojans).

AKHILLEUS

The greatest Greek warrior at Troy.

ALKINOOS

King of the Phaiakians, host to Odysseus; father of Nausikaa, husband of Arete.

AMPHINOMES

A suitor of Penelope.

ANTINOOS

Ringleader of Penelope's suitors.

ARETE

Queen of the Phaiakians.

ATHENA

Goddess of the arts and wisdom; patron of Odysseus.

DEATH

Homer's name for Hades, ruler of the underworld.

ELPENOR

One of Odysseus' crew, dies when he falls off Kirke's roof.

EREBOS

The dark land of the dead.

EUMAIOS

Faithful swineherd of Odysseus.

EUPEITHES

Father of Antinoos; killed by Laertes.

EURYKLEIA

Old and faithful maidservant to Odysseus.

EURYLOKHOS

Righthand man to Odysseus during his travels.

EURYMAKHOS

Oily-tongued suitor to Penelope.

EURYNOME

Housekeeper to Penelope.

HADES

God of the underworld, Death.

HALITHERSES

Old friend of Odysseus in Ithaka.

HELEN

Wife of Menelaos; carried off to Troy by Paris, causing the Trojan War.

HELIOS

Sun god whose sacred cattle are eaten by Odysseus' crew.

HERA

Queen of the gods, wife of Zeus.

HERMES

Messenger of the gods.

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