The Trojan Women

by

Euripides

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Trojan Women makes teaching easy.

The Trojan Women Characters

Hecuba

The former Queen of Troy. She is arguably the play’s protagonist; she never exits the stage, and acts as the Trojan Women’s emotional heart. Once a proud noblewoman, a loving wife, and a doting… read analysis of Hecuba

Cassandra

A Trojan woman, the daughter of Hecuba and Priam. As a young woman she was cursed by the god Apollo, and given the ability to see the future. However, her curse dictates that… read analysis of Cassandra

Andromache

A Trojan woman, the wife of Hector, mother of Astyanax, and daughter-in-law of Hecuba. She deeply loves her child and her murdered husband, and dreads her upcoming pseudo-marriage to the Greek Neoptolemusread analysis of Andromache

Talthybius

A Greek soldier, who acts as a herald and a messenger. He is one of only two mortal men in the play, and the one with the most face time with the women of Troy… read analysis of Talthybius

Menelaus

The King of Sparta and the former husband of Helen, who he has fought the Trojan War for, and who he now intends to transport back to Greece and kill for her disloyalty. Although… read analysis of Menelaus
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Helen

The most beautiful mortal woman in the world. Formerly of Sparta and wife of the warrior King Menelaus, Helen eloped to Troy with Paris, causing the Trojan War. Now, at the end of… read analysis of Helen

Athena

The Greek goddess of wisdom and war. She, along with Hera and Aphrodite, participated in a beauty contest judged by Paris. Because the Trojan Paris did not select her as the winner, she sided… read analysis of Athena

Astyanax

The young son of Andromache and Hector. Although a toddler, and old enough to talk, he does not speak during the play. He is murdered by the Greeks for fear that he could grow… read analysis of Astyanax

Hera

The Greek goddess of women, marriage, and birth. She is the sister of Poseidon and is both Zeus’s sister and wife. Along with Athena and Aphrodite, Hera participated in a beauty contest judged… read analysis of Hera

Aphrodite

The Greek goddess of love, beauty, and desire. Along with Hera and Athena, Aphrodite takes part in a beauty competition judged by Paris. She promises Paris that if he wins he can marry… read analysis of Aphrodite
Minor Characters
Poseidon
The Greek god of the ocean, earthquakes, and horses. Poseidon built the city of Troy together with the god Apollo, and therefore remained on the Trojans’ side in their fight against the Greeks. He is the brother of Zeus, and the uncle of Athena.
Zeus
The Greek god of sky and thunder, and the ruler of the Greek pantheon. His siblings include Hera (who is also his wife) and Poseidon. He has many children, some gods, some demigods, including Apollo, Athena, and Heracles.
The Chorus
The chorus is a group of unnamed Trojan women. Now enslaved by the Greeks, they were likely formerly Hecuba’s handmaidens.
Priam
The King of Troy, husband to Hecuba, and father to Cassandra, Paris, Hector, and many others. Although he has died before the play begins, his memory lives on in Hecuba’s lamentations. He remains greatly respected by his living family.
Ajax
A Greek soldier, also known as Ajax the Lesser, to distinguish him from the other Greek warrior, Ajax the Great. He does not appear onstage, but is said to have raped Cassandra before the play begins.
Epeius
A Greek engineer who created the Trojan horse, an enormous hollow statue used to smuggle Greek soldiers into the city of Troy.
Theseus
The mythical founder of Athens. A semi-historical figure respected by both Greeks and Trojans alike.
Odysseus
A famously cunning Greek warrior, the protagonist of the Odyssey, and the mastermind behind the Trojan horse (and thus the Greek victory over Troy). He claims Hecuba to be his slave. Although Odysseus never appears onstage, Hecuba describes him as “slippery” and a “murderous beast.”
Achilles
A Greek warrior and demigod, who killed Hector but was later killed by Paris.
Hymen
The Greek god of marriage.
Neoptolemus
A Greek warrior, and the son of the warrior Achilles. He claims Andromache as his slave.
Agamemnon
The king of Argos and leader of the Greek army, and the brother of Menelaus. He claims Cassandra as his slave.
Apollo
The Greek god of the sun, music, poetry, and prophecy. He fought on the side of the Trojans during the war. He also cursed the mortal Cassandra, giving her the ability to see the future.
Paris
A Trojan prince, the son of Hecuba and Priam, and the husband of Helen. Although he is dead before the events of the play begin, he is described as exceptionally handsome. His elopement with Helen is (according to Greek tradition) the direct cause of the Trojan War.
Hector
A famous Trojan warrior, the son of Priam and Hecuba, husband to Andromache, and father to Astyanax. He is killed in battle by Achilles before the play’s action begins.
Deiphobus
A Trojan, one of Hecuba and Priam’s sons. He married Helen after his brother Paris died.
Heracles
A legendary Greek warrior and demigod, the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. At one point he saved Troy from a sea monster, but when he was not properly paid for his troubles he raided the city.