Character List

Role

Significance

Achilles

The son of the military man Peleus and the sea-nymph Thetis. The most powerful warrior in the Iliad,
Achilles commands the Myrmidons, soldiers from his homeland of Phthia in Greece. Proud and
headstrong, he takes offense easily and reacts with blistering indignation when he perceives that his
honor has been slighted. Achilles’ wrath at Agamemnon for taking his war prize, the maiden Briseis,
forms the main subject of the Iliad.

Role: Achilles is known to be the most formidable of the Greek warriors. Each victory of Greece is won
with the presence of Achilles.

Significance: When Agamemnon stole Briseis, he became too despondent to fight alongside the Greeks
in the Trojan war. Because of his state, Patroclus implored Achilles to give him his armor instead, so that
the Trojans may be misled to think Achilles is with them. During the war, Patroclus was slain. This
evoked the desire for retribution in Achilles and impelled him to battle the Trojans and slay Hector to
avenge Patroclus.

Agamemnon

King of Mycenae and leader of the Achaean army; brother of King Menelaus of Sparta. Arrogant and
often selfish, Agamemnon provides the Achaeans with strong but sometimes reckless and self-serving
leadership. Like Achilles, he lacks consideration and forethought. Most saliently, his tactless
appropriation of Achilles’ war prize, the maiden Briseis, creates a crisis for the Achaeans, when Achilles,
insulted, withdraws from the war.

Role: Agamemnon, along with Achilles, is a great Greek warrior. In the battle against the Trojans, he was
also a major fighter. But when he stole Briseis from Achilles, it caused his disappearance from the war.
When they were outfought by the Trojans, Agamemnon finally rued his actions and sought to appease
Achilles, but was unsuccessful in doing so.

Significance: What he did to Achilles led to his absence during the battle with the Trojans, which left
them in an utter disadvantage.

Patroclus

Achilles’ beloved friend, companion, and advisor, Patroclus grew up alongside the great warrior in
Phthia, under the guardianship of Peleus. Devoted to both Achilles and the Achaean cause, Patroclus
stands by the enraged Achilles but also dons Achilles’ terrifying armor in an attempt to hold the Trojans
back.

Role: He is close to Achilles and fought alongside him. He, Achilles, and several other Greek warriors
were assets to the Achaeans during the Trojan War. But more than this, it was his death that moved
Achilles to stop wallowing in despondence and seek retribution for him by defeating Hector and
dragging his lifeless body around the land using his chariot.
Odysseus

A fine warrior and the cleverest of the Achaean commanders. Along with Nestor, Odysseus is one of the
Achaeans’ two best public speakers. He helps mediate between Agamemnon and Achilles during their
quarrel and often prevents them from making rash decisions.

Role: When the Greeks scoured to find him, he feigned insanity to be deemed as unfit for war; however,
this charade was discovered, leaving him no choice but to be involved. He also recognized Achilles when
he was disguised also to prevent him from being in the war.

Significance:

Diomedes

The youngest of the Achaean commanders, Diomedes is bold and sometimes proves impetuous. After
Achilles withdraws from combat, Athena inspires Diomedes with such courage that he actually wounds
the two gods, Aphrodite and Ares.

Great Ajax

Nestor

Menelaus

Calchas

Peleus

The Myrmidons

Hector

Priam

Hecuba

Paris

Role: He

Helen

Aeneas