NOTE: The Samuel Butler translation, which I am using for my write ups, uses the Latin names for the characters while I use their original Greek names when not quoting directly from the Butler translation. This list will give you both the Latin and Greek names of the characters (when relevant) as well as a brief description of who they are. The Greek or alternate names are in italics.

This is a cast of the major characters in the Iliad.

The Achaeans (Greeks)

NOTE: The Achaeans are also referred to as Argives and Danaans in the Iliad.

  • Achilles – The strongest warrior in the Achaean army and the focus of Iliad; son of the goddess Thetis and the mortal Peleus; commands the Myrmidon army
  • Agamemnon – The commander of the Achaean army and king of Mycenae; of the famous House of Atreus
  • Menelaus – The brother of Agamemnon and king of Sparta; Helen of Troy’s husband who left him for Paris; of the famous House of Atreus
  • Patroclus – Achilles’ childhood friend and a leader in the Myrmidon army
  • Ulysses – Odysseus; a cunning tactician in the Achaean army and king of Ithaca; the focus of the poem Odyssey by Homer
  • Diomed – Diomedes; son of Tydeus and king of Argos; one of the Achaeans’ strongest warriors
  • Nestor – The oldest and wisest warrior in the Achaean army and king of Pylos; plays more of a support role
  • Antilochus – A son of Nestor and one of the fastest runners in the Achaean army
  • Idomeneus – King of Crete and grandson of the legendary King Minos; middle-aged by the time of the Trojan War, but is one of the Achaeans’ more capable warriors
  • Meriones – Idomeneus’ charioteer
  • Telamonian Ajax – Ajax, the son of Telamon; a towering Achaean warrior who wields a large shield in battle; called Telamonian Ajax to distinguish him from Little Ajax
  • Teucer – Telamonian Ajax’ half-brother and an exceptional archer
  • Little Ajax – Ajax, the son of Oileus; one of the fastest runners in the Achaean army; called Little Ajax to distinguish him from Telamonian Ajax
the Trojans and their allies:
  • Hector – One of the princes of Troy as well as Troy’s champion; son of King Priam
  • Alexander – Paris; one of the princes of Troy; son of King Priam; seduced and abducted Helen which sparked the Trojan War
  • Helen – Former wife of Menelaus; considered the most beautiful woman in the world; was seduced by Paris and ran away with him, sparking the Trojan War
  • Priam – The king of Troy and the father of Paris and Hector
  • Aeneas – A son of the goddess Aphrodite and leader of the Dardanians; the focus of the poem Aeneid by Virgil
  • Sarpedon – A son of the god Zeus; a strong warrior and leader of the Lycians
  • Glaucus – Close friend of Sarpedon in the Lycian army; has ties with the Achaean warrior Diomedes
the gods
  • Thetis – Achilles’ mother and a sea goddess; helps Achilles at the expense of both the Achaeans and the Trojans
  • Jove/Jupiter – Zeus; king of Olympus; brother and husband of Juno/Hera; primary domain is the sky and protector of law and order, oaths, and hospitality; remains neutral in the war though he favors the Trojans
  • Juno – Hera; queen of Olympus; wife and sister of Jupiter/Zeus; goddess of marriage; favors the Achaeans in the war and despises the Trojans
  • Minerva – Athena; one of the Olympians; goddess of wisdom, tactical warfare, and crafts; favors the Achaeans in the war and despises the Trojans
  • Neptune – Poseidon; one of the Olympians; primary domain is the sea; favors the Achaeans in the war because of what a previous Trojan king did to him
  • Venus – Aphrodite; one of the Olympians; goddess of love and beauty; favors the Trojans in the war because of Paris and her son Aeneas
  • Apollo – One of the Olympians; god of prophecy, medicine, and archery; favors the Trojans in the war because of how Agamemnon treated his priest
  • Mars – Ares; one of the Olympians; god of war; switches sides multiple times in the war
  • Vulcan – Hephaestus; one of the Olympians; god of smithing and crafting; crafted Achilles’ armor and shield as a favor to Thetis
  • Mercury – Hermes; one of the Olympians; messenger for the Olympians
  • Iris – A goddess; messenger and servant of the Olympians

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