The Iliad Characters
Every major character in The Iliad by Homer, with a portrait, who they are and the chapters they appear in.
HectorMajor character · 21 chaptersEldest son of Priam, Troy’s greatest warrior and devoted husband and father who leads Trojan defense against the Achaeans.
AchillesProtagonist · 16 chaptersGreatest Achaean warrior, son of Peleus and Thetis, leader of the Myrmidons whose wrath drives the poem.
AgamemnonMajor character · 16 chaptersKing of Mycenae and commander of the Achaean forces whose pride and decisions drive the conflict with Achilles and shape Greek strategy.
ApolloMajor character · 15 chaptersOlympian god of archery, plague, and prophecy who favors the Trojans and intervenes decisively in the war.
MenelausMajor character · 15 chaptersKing of Sparta, husband of Helen; a capable fighter and honorable Achaean leader whose pride and resolve shape key moments.
ZeusMajor character · 15 chaptersKing of the gods who adjudicates divine will and tilts fate in the Trojan War while watching from Olympus.
NestorMajor character · 14 chaptersSeasoned king of Pylos and the Achaeans’ elder counselor who steadies leaders and rallies troops with memory and rhetoric.
PatroclusMajor character · 13 chaptersAchilles’ closest companion and aide whose loyalty and actions catalyze Achilles’ return to war.
ThetisMajor character · 13 chaptersA sea-nymph (Nereid) and the devoted divine mother of Achilles who petitions the gods and secures aid for her son.
AeneasMajor character · 12 chaptersA leading Trojan prince and Dardanian commander renowned for courage, duty, and frequent divine aid on the battlefield.
IdomeneusMajor character · 12 chaptersKing of Crete and steady Achaean commander who leads the Cretan contingent and fights fiercely at the ships.
AthenaMajor character · 11 chaptersOlympian goddess of wisdom and warcraft who guides and meddles on behalf of the Achaeans, favoring disciplined counsel over raw fury.
Ajax the GreaterMajor character · 10 chaptersForemost Achaean champion, son of Telamon, famed for impenetrable defense and brute strength on the battlefield.
OdysseusMajor character · 10 chaptersKing of Ithaca; shrewd, persuasive Achaean captain and key strategist who balances speech and action.
PriamMajor character · 10 chaptersAged, compassionate king of Troy who embodies piety, restraint, and the burdens of leadership in war.
Ajax the LesserMajor character · 9 chaptersAias son of Oileus, leader of the Locrians; a swift, spear-armed flank fighter who harries Trojan lines.
DiomedesMajor character · 9 chaptersArgive king and frontline warrior known for discipline, tactical sense, and steady courage on the battlefield.- MMerionesMinor character · 9 chaptersCretan warrior and comrade of Idomeneus; fights at the ships and helps with Patroclus’ funeral and the funeral games.
TalthybiusMinor character · 9 chaptersAgamemnon’s chief herald and messenger, who conveys orders and carries sensitive errands between commanders and the ranks.- AAntilochusMinor character · 8 chaptersNestor’s son, an Achaean warrior who fights at the ships, races in Patroclus’ funeral games, and brings Achilles the fatal news.
HephaestusMajor character · 8 chaptersOlympian smith-god who forges divine arms and intervenes among the gods to restore order and aid the Achaeans.
HeraMajor character · 8 chaptersQueen of the gods who favors the Achaeans and manipulates gods and men to turn the war against Troy.- IIrisMinor character · 8 chaptersA divine messenger (goddess) who conveys orders and prompts key human and divine actions at Zeus's and Juno's bidding.
ParisMajor character · 8 chaptersTrojan prince (also called Alexandros), whose beauty and choice to take Helen sparks the conflict and shapes Trojan fortunes.
SarpedonMajor character · 8 chaptersLycians' prince and commander, son of Zeus, a prominent Trojan ally who exemplifies heroic valor and leadership.
AphroditeMajor character · 7 chaptersGoddess of love who protects Paris and stirs desire and alliances to shape Trojan fortunes.
GlaucusMajor character · 7 chaptersLycian prince and comrade of Sarpedon, a fighting ally of Troy who leads troops at the ships and counsels Trojan leaders.- JJunoMajor character · 7 chaptersQueen of the gods who favors the Achaeans and repeatedly opposes Zeus’ plans.
PoseidonMajor character · 7 chaptersOlympian god of the sea and earthquakes who repeatedly intervenes to aid the Achaeans and alter battles.- TTeucerMajor character · 7 chaptersA skilled Achaean archer and warrior who fights beside the Ajaxes, wounds and wins, and competes in Patroclus’ funeral games.
- AAjax son of TelamonMajor character · 6 chaptersA towering Achaean champion who stands as a bulwark of defense and duels Hector in single combat.
AntenorMajor character · 6 chaptersRespected Trojan elder and prudent advisor who urges peaceful, honorable settlement of the conflict.
BriseisMinor character · 6 chaptersA Trojan woman taken as a war prize whose seizure and return catalyze Achilles' quarrel with Agamemnon.- JJoveMajor character · 6 chaptersKing of the gods who controls divine favor and enforces fate, decisively shifting the battle’s tide.
PhoenixMajor character · 6 chaptersVeteran Myrmidon, foster-father and longtime mentor to Achilles, chosen to plead with Achilles during the embassy.- AAgenorMinor character · 5 chaptersA Trojan warrior who fights near the ships and later lures Achilles away from the walls, allowing Trojans to reach safety.
AndromacheMajor character · 5 chaptersWife of Hector and mother whose laments and counsel show the domestic cost of the war for Troy.
CalchasMajor character · 5 chaptersForemost Achaean seer whose readings of omens and divine will shape commanders' decisions and the army's course.
DeiphobusMajor character · 5 chaptersTrojan prince, son of Priam and Hecuba; a battlefield leader who fights beside his brothers to defend Troy.
HecubaMajor character · 5 chaptersQueen of Troy, wife of Priam and mother of Hector; a grieving, pious voice within the royal household.- LLycaonMinor character · 5 chaptersA Trojan warrior and former captive of Achilles who is captured and slain while begging for mercy.
- MMinervaMajor character · 5 chaptersOlympian goddess who intervenes to counsel, restrain, and support the Achaeans—especially Achilles—during key crises.
PandarusMinor character · 5 chaptersTrojan archer from Zelea, son of Lycaon, whose shot at Menelaus helps reignite the war and who later dies fighting Diomed.- SSthenelusMinor character · 5 chaptersA loyal Achaean warrior who accompanies and supports Diomed in the fighting.
- UUlyssesMajor character · 5 chaptersCunning Achaean leader and counsellor who persuades troops, joins the embassy to Achilles, and helps secure reconciliation.
MachaonMajor character · 4 chaptersA chief Achaean physician from Thessaly who treats the wounded and occasionally fights when needed.
AresMajor character · 3 chaptersOlympian god of war who joins the Trojan side and personifies the brutal, chaotic force of battle.
ChryseisMinor character · 3 chaptersA priest’s daughter taken as Agamemnon’s war prize whose capture triggers Apollo’s wrath and the Achaean crisis.
ChrysesMinor character · 3 chaptersA priest of Apollo from Chryse who comes to ransom his daughter and invokes Apollo's wrath when dishonoured.
DolonMinor character · 3 chaptersA Trojan volunteer spy who seeks Achilles’ horses and is captured and killed by Odysseus and Diomedes.
HelenMajor character · 3 chaptersDaughter of Zeus, wife of Menelaus, whose elopement with Paris sparks the war and who moves among Trojan royalty, reflecting on her role.
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