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Major Characters in Iliad VIII

Major Characters in Iliad VIII

By N.S. Gill, About.com

  • Zeus - king of the gods. Zeus attempts neutrality.
    Known as Jupiter or Jove among the Romans and in some translations of the Iliad.

  • Athena - favors the Greeks. Also known by the Romans as Minerva.

  • Idomeneus - leader of the contingent from Crete on the Greek side of the Trojan War.

  • Agamemnon - head king of the Greeks.

  • Odysseus - from Ithaca. One of the leaders of the Greeks who will vie with Ajax for the status of most worthy after Achilles.

  • Ajax - of Locris. Bound by the Oath of Tyndareus and one of the Argonauts, he was in the belly of the Trojan Horse and then raped the princess Cassandra at the end of the war.

  • Ajax - the son of Telamon and Periboea, this Ajax is the one most people refer to when talking about Ajax. He was one of the foremost fighters in the Trojan War.

  • Teucer - a half-brother of Ajax and a son of Telamon.
  • Diomedes - from Argos. One of the most fearless of the Greek leaders. His father was Tydeus.

  • Nestor - from Gerenia in Messenia. King of Pylos. Nestor joined the Trojan War with his sons Antilochus and Thrasymedes. Nestor is old, but well-respected. Odysseus visits Nestor on his return home.

  • Hera - queen of the gods, wife and sister of Zeus. Hera is on the side of the Greeks.
    Known as Juno among the Romans and in some translations of the Iliad.

  • Poseidon - sea god and brother of Zeus. Known to the Romans as Neptune. Poseidon harasses Odysseus on his homeward voyage.

  • Menelaus - Helen's Greek husband. Menelaus is not considered a good fighter.

  • Hector - champion of the Trojans and son of Priam.

  • Achilles - best warrior and most heroic of the Greeks, although he is sitting out the war.

  • Patroclus - Achilles' friend.

    Profiles of Some of the Major Olympian Gods Involved in the Trojan War

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book I

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book II

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book III

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book IV

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book V

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book VI

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book VII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book VIII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book IX

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book X

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XI

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XIII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XIV

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XV

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XVI

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XVII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XVIII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XIX

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XX

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XXI

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XXII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XXIII

    Summary and Main Characters of the Iliad Book XXIV

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