Major Characters of the Iliad
One of the challenges of reading epic poetry is keeping track of all the names. There are roughly 1000 names referenced in the chapters of the Iliad, and it is very easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged by trying to keep up with them all. Listed below are the names of the major characters of the epic poem. If you are able to keep track of these 11 main characters, you will be able to follow the main action of the poem easily.
Greek Characters
Achilles
Achilles is considered the greatest of Greek warriors. Son of the nymph Thetis and the hero Peleus, Achilles is renowned for his fighting prowess and powerful emotions. Unable to contain his Menin (god-like anger), Achilles takes out his wrath on the Greek forces by refusing to fight and even asks for Zeus to favor the Trojans until the Greeks beg for his return to battle. The swift runner refuses to fight until Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles' best friend, thus motivating Achilles for revenge. Implacable in his desire for combat and unstoppable on the battlefield, Achilles's fighting prowess is feared so heavily by the Trojans that they refuse to fight outside their city walls while he is on the battlefield. Achilles commands the Myrmidons, an elite fighting force from Phithia, Achilles' homeland where he is also king.
Agamemnon
Supreme commander of the Greek forces, Agamemnon is a powerful man commanding the largest contingent of Greek forces from his city state of Mycenae. King of Mycenae, Agamemnon helped organize the effort to sail to Troy after his brother's wife was stolen by Paris. Men look to Agamemnon because he has a commanding presence and the ability to speak well in council. He lacks discretion and wisdom, as evidenced by the fact that he sparks Achilles' rage by stealing Achilles' timh' (a war prize symbolizing honor), a woman named Briseis. Agamemnon pays for his folly by losing his best warrior for a few days in battle. Agamemnon was the son of Atreus and is sometimes referred to as Atrides in the poem.
Menelaus
Menelaus is the original husband of Helen and the King of Sparta. Brother of the powerful warlord Agamemnon, Menelaus relies on his brother's power in order to organize the war and win his bride back. Menelaus is famous for his prowess in battle and his red hair. He nearly defeats his mortal enemy Paris in a one-on-one duel in Book 3, but Aphrodite intervenes before Menelaus can kill the outmatched Paris. Menelaus is the son of Atreus and is sometimes referred to as Atrides in the poem.
Great Ajax
The powerful Ajax is second in fighting strength to only Achilles. Ajax is the son of Telamon and commands a contingent from Salamis where he is king. Distinguished due to his large body shield made of seven layers of ox-hide and one layer of bronze, Ajax is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. He is more of a defensive fighter and can hold any position for a great length of time based on virtue of his strength and weaponry. Ajax is a man of few words, as evidenced by his brief appeal to try and get Achilles to return to the battlefield in Book 9.
Diomedes
Diomedes, the youngest of Greek commanders at Troy, was well renowned for his fighting ability and words in council. An extremely popular Greek warrior, he even wounded the gods Aphrodite and Ares during his Aristeia (moment of glory) in Book 5. Diomedes is the son of Tydeus and is sometimes referred to as Tydides in the poem. Diomedes commands the contingent from Argos where he is king.
Odysseus
Most famous for his devising of the Trojan Horse and the story of his journey home (as chronicled in Homer's other epic poem, the Odyssey), Odysseus is a vital character in the Iliad due to his fighting prowess and wisdom in council. Odysseus helps rally the troops in Book 2 after Agamemnon foolishly tells them to go home, and he also helps the Greeks gain the upper-hand in battle during the third day of fighting in the Iliad. Odysseus is the son of Laertes and commands the contingent from Ithaca where he is king.
Patroclus
Best friend of Achilles and one of the commanders of the Myrmidons (Achilles' army from Phthia), Patroclus is beloved by the Greek army; even the women who have been taken as war prizes by the Greek soldiers love Patroclus because of his kindness and gentle spirit. His timidity is reserved for instances away from battle, though, because Patroclus is one of the most fearsome warriors: he single-handedly saves the Greek ships from destruction and almost conquers Troy. Apollo intervenes and works with Hector to kill Patroclus. Patroclus' death inspires Achilles to return to battle.
Nestor
Nestor, king of the Pylians, is a unique character because he is one of the few Greeks in this story who never fights. The reason he never fights is because he is the oldest of the Greek commanders and past his prime. This does not lessen his value to the Greeks, because Nestor dispenses valuable advice in council and on the battlefield. He advises Patroclus to return to battle wearing Achilles' armor, a piece of advice that effectively saves the Greek ships from destruction. Nestor was a powerful warrior at one point, but now makes his mark on the Achaean army by being the most trusted adviser of Agamemnon.
Trojan Characters
Hector
Hector is the supreme commander of the Trojan forces and the son of King Priam, the king of Troy. Hector is Priam's favorite son and as such is next in line to succeed Priam on the throne. Also the best warrior for the Trojans, Hector is looked to as the fearless leader of the Trojans and is also seen as the scourge of the Greek army. Though powerful in battle, his courage wavers at times, and he is a lesser warrior than both Achilles and Great Ajax. Nevertheless, Hector represents piety and nobility for the Trojans; he is one of the few male characters seen treating women gently in this poem, and his desire above all is to protect his home and family. Hector ultimately dies by the spear of Achilles, and his body is defiled by being dragged behind Achilles' chariot. Priam must recover Hector's body for final burial. Hector is commonly seen as the final defense of Troy; soon after his death the city of Troy falls to the Greeks.
Paris
Paris, also a prince of Troy and son of Priam, is the warrior who, according to myth, started the Trojan war by stealing Helen. Known more for his good looks than his fighting prowess, Paris prefers to use the bow in battle, a weapon that was traditionally seen as cowardly. Paris is more concerned with love than war, though at times he shows flashes of brilliance in battle. He most notably wounds Diomedes in Book 11.
Priam
Priam is the king of Troy and father of more than fifty sons. The noble king is greatly anguished over the war outside his city, though he harbors no resentment for Helen or his son Paris. Priam heroically recovers Hector's body from Achilles in Book 24 so that the Trojans may observe the proper funeral rights for their fallen hero.
All information about the Greek Heroes retrieved from:
Hamilton, Edith. 1942. Mythology. New York, New York: Warner Books.
and
Homer. 1990. Iliad. Robert Fagles, Trans. New York, New York: Penguin Books.
All images for this page were retrieved from the Wikipedia Commons and are in the public domain.