Circe

An ancient Greek nymph, Circe is the story’s protagonist and first-person narrator. She is described as a “golden goddess” and “golden witch,” although she begins the story as an insignificant nymph in the halls… read analysis of Circe

Prometheus, a Titan infamous for having given mortals fire, is Circe’s uncle. Circe meets him when he is being whipped as part of his punishment for bringing fire to the human world. Zeus had… read analysis of Prometheus

Helios is the Titan god of the sun, an egotistical and tyrannical person whose personality reflects the horrific nature of the gods. He embodies a major theme of the novel, how power breeds abuse, since… read analysis of Helios

Telegonus is Circe’s and Odysseus’s son, although Odysseus never learns of his existence. Telegonus’s name means “far away,” which represents how Circe has him far away from everyone else and tries to keep… read analysis of Telegonus

Telemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope. He is unlike his proud and adventurous father, preferring chores to conquering cities. Circe is especially surprised by his openness and honesty, which is very different… read analysis of Telemachus

Pasiphaë is Helios and Perse’s daughter, and the sister of Circe, Aeëtes, and Perses. When in Helios’s halls, Pasiphaë follows her mother’s lead and is malicious toward Circe. Because Pasiphaë spends… read analysis of Pasiphaë

Daedalus is an ingenious craftsman, whom Pasiphaë and Minos imprison to work for them. When Pasiphaë wants to get close to a sacred bull that the gods sent to Crete, Daedalus constructs an artificial cow… read analysis of Daedalus

Glaucos is initially a mortal fisherman whom Circe meets when he sails close to the shore near Helios’s halls. Glaucos admires Circe; she, a goddess, is a marvel to him. Circe falls in love… read analysis of Glaucos

Hermes is the Olympian messenger of the gods. He is the first person to visit Circe on Aiaia, and since he is an excellent storyteller and an amusing companion, he and Circe become lovers. They… read analysis of Hermes

The Minotaur, a man-eating monster that craves human flesh, was born after Pasiphaë had sex with a sacred bull. The Minotaur is Pasiphaë’s way to gain fame among gods and men, and it also serves… read analysis of The Minotaur

Scylla starts the story as the most beautiful nymph in the halls of the gods. When Glaucos falls in love with her, Scylla flaunts his affection before Circe. Circe is pained by Scylla’s cruelty… read analysis of Scylla

Medea is Aeëtes’s daughter and Circe’s niece. She is also a witch, which Aeëtes resents, as he fears that she will eventually arm her husband with magic. Medea falls fiercely in love with… read analysis of Medea

Odysseus is a warrior who, on his way home to Ithaca from Troy, stops on Circe’s island. Odysseus is extremely clever, which attracts Athena to be his patron. Odysseus is also extremely proud, and… read analysis of Odysseus

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, weaving, and the art of war. She is also the patron of Odysseus. She wants to bring him glory and power, and so she encourages him to seek… read analysis of Athena

Penelope is the wife of Odysseus and the father of Telemachus. When Odysseus doesn’t return home from Troy, many suitors squabble for Penelope’s hand. Although she has no intention of marrying anyone while she… read analysis of Penelope

Jason is the rightful king of Iolcos. When his uncle seized the throne, he told Jason that he could become king only if he brought back Aeëtes’s golden fleece. When Jason goes to Colchis… read analysis of Jason

Perses is a son of Perse and Helios, and the brother of Circe, Aeëtes, and Pasiphaë. He is a sorcerer, like the rest of his siblings. Perses is named after his… read analysis of Perses

Perse is the wife of Helios and mother of Circe, Aeëtes, Pasiphaë, and Perses. As a nymph, she has no power among the divinities. The only way she can gain more… read analysis of Perse

Trygon is an immortal creature who has god-like status. He is a stingray whose tail is so poisonous that it can kill a mortal instantly and cause eternal pain to a god. Circe first learns… read analysis of Trygon

Minos is Pasiphaë’s husband and the king of Crete. He fears Pasiphaë because of her powers—he does not want a powerful wife, but instead wants “a simpering jelly he keeps in a jar and… read analysis of Minos

Zeus is the king of the gods and ruler of the Olympians. He is the son of Kronos, whom he kills to gain control. Zeus is similar to Helios in that he is obsessed… read analysis of Zeus

Kronos was the king of the Titans before Zeus, his son, defeated him. Before the days of the Olympians, Kronos heard a prophecy that one of his children would overthrow him. Afraid to lose… read analysis of Kronos

Tethys is a Titan goddess of water and is Oceanos’s wife, which makes her Circe’s grandmother. Tethys helps Circe when she begs her to send Glaucos good fishing, as Circe herself does not… read analysis of Tethys

Ariadne is Pasiphaë’s and Minos’s daughter. She is sympathetic toward the Minotaur, as she sees the creature as her brother. When she falls in love with Theseus, one of the mortals that… read analysis of Ariadne

Polydamas is the captain of the ship that Daedalus and Circe sail on to get to Crete. When Circe asks him for his cloak (she plans to use it as part of her disguise when… read analysis of Polydamas

Alke is the first nymph who is sent to Circe’s island. Circe tries to welcome her, but Alke is rude and sulky. When Circe tries to dismiss her, though, Alke defiantly stays put, telling… read analysis of Alke

Icarus is Daedalus’s son, whom he loves very much. Pasiphaë uses Icarus as her weapon to keep Daedalus obedient. Pasiphaë’s cruelty in keeping Icarus imprisoned demonstrates how bystanders become collateral damage in the gods’… read analysis of Icarus

Lampetia is one of Helios’s daughters and Circe’s half-sister. Like her sister Phaethousa, Lampetia is a caretaker of Helios’s sacred cattle. She is one of Helios’s most beautiful children and she, just… read analysis of Lampetia

Phaethousa is one of Helios’s daughters and Circe’s half-sister. Like her sister Lampetia, Phaethousa is a caretaker of Helios’s sacred cattle. She is also obsessed with perfection and encourages Circe to hide… read analysis of Phaethousa

Polyphemus is the Cyclops that Odysseus meets on his journey home from Troy. Odysseus goes into Polyphemus’s cave out of greed—he wants to get the cyclops’s treasure—but Polyphemus traps them and then begins eating Odysseus’s… read analysis of Polyphemus

Artemis is goddess of the hunt and is Hermes’s sister. She kills Ariadne, although the reason is never clear, which suggests that it was a thoughtless murder. Circe is enraged to hear that… read analysis of Artemis

Achilles is the best of the Greek warriors at Troy. He is of the people that Odysseus fought alongside. Odysseus meets Achilles at the gate to the underworld, where Achilles tells Odysseus that he wishes… read analysis of Achilles

Oceanos is the Titan god of the fresh water and is god of the fresh-water river that the ancient Greeks believed circled the Earth. Oceanos is Perses’s father and Helios’s cousin. When Helios… read analysis of Oceanos

Elpenor is one of Odysseus’s men. He likes to sleep on top of Circe’s roof. The evening before Odysseus and his men go to the gates of the underworld, Elpenor falls from the… read analysis of Elpenor

Eileithyia is the goddess of childbirth who has the power to help women give birth. Circe calls for Eileithyia’s help during her labor with Telegonus, but she does not come, which indicates that some… read analysis of Eileithyia

Boreas is the Titan of the north wind. When he and Apollo fall in love with the same mortal man, Boreas kills the mortal so that Apollo, an Olympian, can’t have him. Boreas’s heartless murder… read analysis of Boreas

Apollo is the Olympian god of light, music, prophecy, and medicine. He visits Aiaia once with a prophecy for Odysseus. Without asking Circe’s permission, he forces his prophecy on her. Bearing Apollo’s prophecy… read analysis of Apollo