Mentor

Mentor is an old family friend of Odysseus. Athene takes Mentor’s form several times while she is in disguise among the mortals.

Ctesippus

Ctesippus is one of the worst suitors. He throws a cow’s hoof at Odysseus while Odysseus is disguised as a beggar.

Odysseus

Odysseus is the main character of the story, but we don’t meet him directly until the fifth book. Until then we follow his son Telemachus on his mini-odyssey and hear others talk of Odysseus. From what they say, it is clear that Odysseus is well respected, feared by his enemies, and loved by his friends and family. He is a brave and skilled fighter who is known to be cunning.. He has some powerful and important friends.

Odysseus has been away from home for twenty years at the start of this story. He left to fight in the Trojan War...