Odyssey Study Guide Contents
Book 2: Telemachus Calls the Assembly in Ithaca | Summary Book II | Notes | Major Characters | Quiz on Book II
- Zeus - king of the gods. Zeus attempts neutrality.
Known as Jupiter or Jove among the Romans and in some translations of the Odyssey. - Athena - a war goddess who especially favors Odysseus and other heroes. Athena is on the side of the Greeks.
Known as Minerva among the Romans and in some translations of the Iliad. - Telemachus - Son of Odysseus who was left as a baby when Odysseus went off 20 years earlier to fight in the Trojan War.
- Laertes - Son of Arceisius; aged father of Odysseus.
- Penelope - Wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus.
- Antinous - The most insolent of the suitors. He is the son of Eupeithes.
- Mentor - a trusted old friend of Odysseus left in charge when Odysseus went off to the Trojan War. Athena took on the disguise of Mentor.
- Eurykleia (Euryklea) - Odysseus and Telemachus' nurse. Eukykleia helps Telemachus with his preparations for sailing to Pylos and is the first to recognize Odysseus when he returns.
- Halitherses - An Ithacan prophet who addresses the assembly that Telemachus has called when Zeus sends an omen.
- Eurymachus (Eurymakhos) - Eurymachus is the second suitor.
- Aigyptios - An old man who is the first to speak at the assembly of Achaeans that Telemachus convenes.
