When you're reading the literature and history of Ancient Greece, there are a few names that should be as familiar to you as Shakespeare, the Bible, Kennedy, or Hitler. Below you will find a list of such major names from legend for quick reference.
Related features on this site are listed beneath each description.
The first alphabetical group consists of heroes from before the Trojan War; then come Trojan War names beginning with Achilles. After the Trojan War heroes come the legendary non-humans.
Also see my ranking of the Top Heroes in Greek Mythology.11. Hector
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Hector was a son of King Priam of Troy and the best warrior of the Trojans in the Trojan War. He killed Patroclus and was killed by Achilles.
12. Helen of Troy and Menelaus
Marie-Lan Nguyen/Wikimedia Commons.
Helen of Troy known as the face that launched a thousand ships for starting the Trojan War. Helen was married to King Menelaus of Sparta when Paris took her.
13. Homer
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The blind bard believed to have written at least one if not both of the Iliad and Odyssey.
14. Iliad
Set in the tenth year of the Trojan war the Iliad tells the story of Achilles' wrath. It ends with Achilles returning Hector's body.Iliad Summary/Notes/Study Guides, Homeric Questions, Amazons, The Lesser Share, Ghost Stories, Four Stories of Prince Al, Heroic Behavior, Quotes.
15. Odysseus
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Odysseus was the cunning Greek who devised the Trojan Horse; subject of the Odyssey.
16. Odyssey
Odyssey The 10-year return voyage taken by Odysseus from the Trojan War to Ithaca. <
18. Patroclus
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Patroclus was responsible for Achilles' rejoining the battle of the Trojan War, at first by proxy and then for revenge. While Achilles was still refusing to fight for the Greeks, he let his friend Patroclus wear his armor and lead his troops. The Trojans, who thought Patroclus was Achilles, killed him. To avenge the death of Patroclus, Achilles rejoined the battle.
19. Trojan Horse
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The Trojan Horse was a device conjured by Odysseus to get the Greek troops inside the Trojan Walls. The Trojans took the horse as a gift not knowing it was filled with warriors. After the Trojans welcomed the gift into their city, they celebrated what they thought was the departure of the Greeks, but while they slept, the Greeks poured forth from the horse's belly and destroyed Troy.
20. Chiron
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Chiron or Cheiron was the kindly centaur who tutored heroes. Hercules accidentally killed him.
21. Pegasus
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Pegasus is the winged flying horse that sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medusa.
22. Medusa
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Medusa was a dreaded monster with snaky locks the sight of which turned men to stone.
