- Zeus - king of the gods. Zeus attempts neutrality.
Known as Jupiter or Jove among the Romans and in some translations of the Iliad. - Themis - titaness who prophesied that the child of Thetis would be greater than his father, for which reason suitors Poseidon and Zeus withdrew their offer of marriage.
- Poseidon - Sea god and brother of Zeus. Known to the Romans as Neptune. Poseidon harasses Odysseus on his homeward voyage.
- 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. - Athena - favors the Greeks. Also known by the Romans as Minerva.
- Ares - war god.
- Hermes - son of Zeus and Maia, one of the Pleiades.
- Artemis - virgin hunter goddess, sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus and Leto. On the side of the Trojans.
- Leto - daughter of the titans Coeus and Phoebe, she is the mother of Apollo and Artemis. When trying to give birth, Hera, who was jealous because the father was Zeus, hunted Leto all over the earth.
- Xanthus - a river near Troy known to mortals as Scamander. Favors the Trojans.
- Apollo - god of many attributes. Favors the Trojans.
- Aphrodite - the goddess of love and winner of the apple of discord who promised Paris (Alexander) Helen. She supports the Trojans and especially Paris.
- Lycaon - son of Laothoe and King Priam of Troy.
- Aeneas - Trojan prince and the son of Aphrodite.
- Hector - champion of the Trojans and son of Priam.
- Achilles - best warrior and most heroic of the Greeks. After Agamemnon stole his war prize, Briseis, Achilles sat out the war until his beloved comrade Patroclus was killed. Although he knows his death is imminent, Achilles is determined to kill as many Trojans as possible, including Hector whom he blames for Patroclus' death.
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
For information on people and places mentioned in Book I of the Iliad, see Iliad Book I - Who? What? Where?Read a public domain translation of Homer's Iliad Book XX.
