A guide that I created a while ago to ace a The Odyssey test:
*May not contain every epithet, but lacks very few if any at all*
Book One
that man skilled in all ways of contending – Odysseus
Peisenor’s son – Ops
Polybos’ son – Eurymakhos
Eupeithes’ son – Antinoos
Ikarioss daughter – Penelope
that two faced man Aigisthos last man home of all the Akhaians – Menelaos
the red-haired king at Sparta – Menelaos
that noble sage at Pylos – Nestor
Son of the veteran Ankhialos – Mentes
the old soldier – Odysseus
the Taphian captain – Mentes
the nymph with pretty braids – Kalypso
the Wayfinder – Hermes
daughter of Phorkys – Thoosa
brawniest of the Kyklopes – Polyphemos
the God who laps the land in water – Poseidon
that kingly man – Odysseus
the summoner of cloud – Zeus
Lord of Olympos – Zeus
the master mind of war – Odysseus
the grey-eyed goddess – Athena
our most observant courier – Hermes
the father of gods and men – Zeus
the wanderer – Odysseus
he who moves all day through heaven – Lord Helios
the brave king – Odysseus
Agamemnon’s son – Orestes
the daughter of one whose baleful mind knows all the deeps of the sea – Kalypso
who holds the columns that bear from land the great thrust of the sky – Atlas
o majesty, o father of us all – zeus
son of Mermeris – Ilos
the famous minstrel – phemios
a great minstrel – phemios
Book 2
Telemakhos
Son of Odysseus
Clear-headed
Peisenor
The crier
Master of debate
Halitherses
Son of Mastor
Keenest among the old at reading bird flight into accurate speech
Eurymakhos
Polybos’ son
Mentor
Comrade in arms of the prince Odysseus
Leokritos
Euenor’s son
Athena
Zeus’ daughter
The goddess with gray eyes
Gray-eyed
Gray-eyed godess
Pallas Athena
Gray-eyed daughter or Zeus
Tireless child of Zeus
Eurykleia
The serving woman
Grand-daughter of Peisenor
The nurse
The dear old nurse
Noemon
Phronios’ wealthy son
Odysseus
The hero
Book 3
Nestor
Master Charioteer
Prince of charioteers
Pride of the Akhaians
Neleus’ son
Lord of Gerenia
Lord of the Western Approaches
True sage
Old lord
Noble sage at Pylos
Poseidon
Earthshaker
Patroklos
The wonderous counselor
Antilokhos
Fastest man of them all
Agamemnon
Son of Atreus
Lord of the Great Plains
Melelaos
Son of Atreus
The red-haired captain
Akhilleus
Lionhearted
Klytaimnestra
Agamemnon’s queen
Neleus
Masterful in kingship
Lady Eurydike
Klymenos’ eldest daughter
Polykaste
A fair girl
Nestor’s youngest
Peisistratos
The youngest prince
Captain of spearmen
Diokles
Son of Ortilokhos whom Alpheios fathered
Book 4
Hermione
Rose-lipped
Aphrodite
Pale-gold godess
Peisistratos
Nestor’s son
Menelaos
Son of Atreus
The red-haired captain
Atreus’ royal son
Lord Marshal
Deep-lunged man of battle
Polydamna
Mistress of Lored Thon in Egypt
Deiphobos
That handsome man
Dawn
Fingertips of rose (rosy finger tipped)
Philomeleides
Champion and Island King
Eidothea
Daughter of Proteus
The fairest of unearthly nymphs
Proteus
The Ancient of the Sea
The Ancient of the Salt Sea
The Ancient
Odysseus
Leartes’ son
Medon
The crier
The alert and cool man
Dolios
The slave Penelope’s father gave her before she arrived (check P. 74, line 786-787)
Iphthime
Greak Ikarios’ other daughter
Penelope
Pensive
Book 5
Epithets:
Zeus
-the master of heaven and high thunder
-the summoner of cloud
Hermes
-the Wayfinder
-the luminous Wayfinder
Kalypso
-the softly-braided nymph
-the mistress of the isle
-the lovely nymph
-the beautiful nymph
Demeter – of the tasseled tresses
Athena
-the goddess with grey eyes
Odysseus
-Son of Laertes
-the strategist
Pleiades
-that laggard Ploughman
-the Great Bear
-the Wain
Poseidon
-the god of earthquake
-earthshaker
-the strong earthshaker
-lord of the stream
-river god
Ino
-Kadmos’s daughter, -slim-legged, lovely, once an earthling girl, now in the seas a Nereid, Leukothea
Phaiakians
-people of the sea
Book 6
Epithets:
Nausikaa
-the daughter of Alkinoos
-she of the white arms
Nausikaa’s Maidens
-the girls with pretty braids
-the girl in the sweet gown
Athena
-unwearied child of royal Zeus
Book 7
Epithets:
Athena
-grey-eyed goddess
The girl with the jug (Athena’s disguise)
-the awesome one in pigtails
Nausithoos
-son of Poseidon and Periboia
-Phaiakia’s lord
Eurymedon
-commander of the Gigantes in the olden days
Eurymedousa- Nausikaa’s old nurse
Arete
-adimirable Rhexenor’s daughter
-ivory skinned lady
Zeus
-lord of the lightning
-advocate of honorable petitioners
Odysseus
-the great tactician
-who had borne the barren sea
Poseidon
-the god who shakes the earth
Tityos
-the son of Gaia
Hermes
-wakeful god
Pontonoos-
Alkinoos’s squire
Kalypso
-Atlas’s guileful daughter
Book 8
Hephaistos-
glorious cripple
great gamelegs
Apollo-
golden
Alkinoos
-the sacred prince
Odysseus
-raider of cities
-expert adversity
-the master mind of war
-Laertes son
-the man of all ocassions
-the great tactician
-canniest of men
-expert in adversity
-that resourceful man
Demodokos
LORD OF SONG
-whom God mad lord of son
-the minstrel
-the blinded minstrel
-that splendid minstrel
Prince Laodamas
-the song of Alkinoos
Hermes
-the runner
Apollo
-lord of Distance
Poseidon
-lord of the earth-surrounding sea
Nausikaa
-exquisite figure
-Daughter of great Alkinoos
Zeus
-the lord of thunder
-Hera’s consort
Muse
-daughter of Zeus in radiance
Book 9
Alkinoos
-king of admiration of men
Odysseus
-Laertes son
-raider of cities
Kalypso
-loveliest among goddesses
Kirke of Aiaia
-the enchantress
Zeus
-the lord of cloud
-Kronos’ son
Dawn
-finger trips of rose
Dawn
-finger trips of rose
Polyphemos
-a prodigious man
-eater of guests
Agamemnon
-son of Atreus
Poseidon
-who sets the earth a-tremble
-the god of earthquake
Telemos
-a son of Eurymos
Book 10
Aiolos -the wind king dear to the gods
-warden of the winds
Antiphates – the Laistrygon
-who came to drink there blood
Kirke – dire beauty and divine
-Lovliest of all immortals
-lovliest of goddesses
Perse – child of the ocean strea
Dawn – with fingertips of rose
Sun- light of men
Kyklops – prodigous cannibal
Eurylokhos – godlike
-valiant
-who feared a snare
Polites- most faithful and likeable of the officers
Odysseus- glory of the commanders
-son of laeretes
-o great contender
-master mariner and soldier
Hermes- a boy whose lip was downy in first bloom
-the glittering god with the golden wand
Amphitrate -Poseidons wife
Kharybdis-dire gorge of the salt sea tide
Book 11
Persephone- pale, iron queen, great Zeus’s daughter
Antikleia- daughter of Autolykos
Odysseus- master of land ways and sea ways
Tyro- salmoneus’s daughter
Zethos-one who founded thebes
Arete- queen with ivory arms
Ekheneos-older son, eldest of all phaiakians
Aias-son of telemon
The Lady Thetis- mother of Akhilleus
Orion- the huge hunter
Tityon-son of gaia
Book 12
Helios-lord of highman
-lord of noon
-who rides high heaven
Zues- who drives the storm cloud
-son of kronos
Book 13
Zues-who rules the worlds
Phorkys- the old sea baron
Naiades- the immortal girls
-young maids of zues
Orsilokhos- the courier son of Idomenues
Arethousa-where the swine are pastured
Phaikians- the famous ship handlers
Book 14
Odysseus-who had borne the long war
-master of improvisation
Eumaios -O my swine heard
Zues-lord of lightning
-who gurads a guest
son of Kronos
Book 15
Telemakhos
-great-hearted hero’s honored son
-heir of king odysseus
-odysseus’s son
-clear-headed
-young prince
-royal odysseu’s own dear son
Menelaos
-the famous king
-lord of the great war cry
-captain of spearmen
-clarion in battle
-lord marshal
-royal son of atreus
-the tall king
-son of atreus
– great captain
-lord marshal of armies
-old friend of the god of battle
Peisistratos
-the son of nestor
Eteoneus
-son of boethoos
Nestor
-the benevolent king
-the old king
Helen
-regal
Zeus
-lord of hera
-lord of the stormcloud
-son of kronos
Diokles
-son of ortilokhos
Melampous
-wizard who lived of old in pylos
-rich lord
Neleus
-noblest in that age
Athena
-gray eyed
Hermes
-wayfinder
-god who honors toil
-patron of mortal tasks
Odysseus
-noble and enduring man
-great tactician
-the kingly man
Eumaios
-master of the woodland
-the forester
-guardian of the swine
-rugged herdsman
-o my swineherd
-loyal keeper of the swine
Ktesios
-ormenos heir, great godlike man
Theoklymenos
-noble passenger
Eurymakhos
-honored son of polybos
-the strongest of their princes
Peiraios
-the good spearman
Book 16
Eumaios
-swineherd
-forester
-o my swineherd
Telemakhos
-odysseus’s tall son
-young prince
– that young pup
-odysseus’ admirable son
-clear-headed
-dear son of great odysseus
-kind prince
Odysseus
-the noble and enduring man
-son of laertes and the gods of old
-master of land ways and sea ways
-he who had borne the barren sea
-he who had endured the long ward and the sea
-the hero
-raider of cities
Zeus
-first born of heaven
-all provident
-the stormking
Eurykleia
-old housekeeper
Athena
-hope of soldiers
-pallas Athena
-gray-eyed
Medon
-the crier
Penelope
-that quiet lady
-sweet queen
-o my queen
-the wise
-that lovely lady
-wise daughter of ikarios
Eurymakhos
-son of polybos
Antinoos
-eupeithes son
Amphinomos
-son of nisos aretiades
Book 17
Dawn
-fingertips of rose
Telemakhos
-the kings son
-the prince
Eumaios
-the swineherd
-forester
-o my swineherd
-the grey woodsman
-famous breeder of pigs
Odysseus
-the great tactician
-old soldier
-great captain
-the patient hero
Penelope
-the wise
-telemakhos’s mother
-o gentle lady
-wife of odysseus laertiades
-the prudent queen
-illustrious queen
-famous queen
-wise mother of telemakhos
-wise daughter of ikarios
Aphrodite
-pale-gold
Zeus
-almighty
-son of kronos
-lord of lighting
Theoklymenos
-the argive exile
-the lonely stranger
-the diviner
Nestor
-lord and guardian of the west
Menelaos
-the captain
-atreus’s son
-of the great war cry
-lord marshal
Philomeleides
-champion and island king
Proteus
-ancient of the salt sea
-that infallible seer
Medon
-the chourier
Melanthios
-son of dolios
-the goatherd
Apollo
-old silverbow
Zeus
-who views the wide world
Antinoos
-eupeithes son
Eurynome
Penelope’s housekeeper
Book 18
Arnaios/Iros
true scavenger
the tramp
the fallen one
Antinoos
full-blooded suitor
eupeithe’s son
Odysseus
willy man
royal
best of the Akhaians
shrewd and kingly man
raider of cities
master of many crafts
Ekhetos
King in Epeiros
Amphinomos
Young noblemen
Athena
Gray-eyed goddess
Penelope
Quiet queen
Quiet daughter of Ikarios
Deep-minded queen
Daughter of ikarios
Eurynome
Good old woman
Artemis
The pure
Peisandros
Lord Polyktor’s son
Melantho
Dolios’ daughter
Eurymakhos
Son of Polybos
Lord Amphinomos
Son of Nisos
Book 19
Odysseus
Lord
Father
The great tactician
Vagabond
The adventurer and king
My lord among the rest
Great master of invention
One with far ranged mind
Master improviser
Eurykleia
The nurse
Old woman
The faithful maid
Maids
Torch-bearers
Athena
Pallas
Aphrodite
Golden
Ikmalios
The artisan
Melantho
Little devil
Mistress
Zeus
Son of Kronos
He who plays with lightning
Eurynome
The housekeeper
Penelope
My dear lady
Honorable lady
Wife of Odysseus Laertiades
The attentive queen
Ikarios’ daughter
Death
Cold
Minos
The father of Odysseus’ father (in the fake story)
Phaidon
King of Threspotia
Dawn
Pure
Young
Autolykos
Odysseus’ mother’s father
Amphithea
Odysseus’ Mother’s mother
Book 20
Odysseus
Most forlorn of men
Stranger
Beggar
Man with mind on action
The hero
Laertes’ son
King
The warrior
Athena
Goddess
Gray-eyed goddess
Goddess-guardian
Pallas
Artemis
Divine daughter of Zeus
Pure
Furies
Loathsome
Dawn
Stitched in gold
Zeus
Father
Almighty
Telemakhos
Clear-eyed as a god
Eurykleia
Nurse
Daughter of Ops Peisenorides
Melanthios
The goatherd
Philoitios
The cattle foreman
Cattle herder
Chief cowherd
Eumaios
The swineherd
Apollo
The archer
Agelaos
Damastor’s son
Eurymakhos
Son of Polybos
Theoklymenos
The visionary
The man of vision
Penelope
Daughter of Ikarios
Book 21 Test of the Bow
Penelope- most worn in love and thought
Iphitos – Eurytos’ son
Herakles – that massive son of toil
Herakles – mortal son of Zeus
Penelope – “the lady’s milkwhite arms”
Eumaios – the swineherd
Leodes – son of Oinops
Melanthio – goatherd
Antinoos & Eurymakhos – suitors in chief
Philoitios – cowherd
Apollo – god of archers
Suitors – contenders for the Queen
Antinoos – brilliant prince
Eurytion – centaur
Penelope – watchful queen
Penelope – daughter of Ikarios
Penelope – most subtle queen
Odysseus – man skilled in all ways of contending
Zeus – son of crooked-minded Kronos
Telemakhos – true son of King Odysseus
Book 22
Odysseus – wiliest fighter of the islands
Antinoos – their [the suitors’] champion
Melanthios – the goatherd
Telemakhos – sharp and clear
Melanthios – Dolios’ son
Odysseus – Son of Laertes, master mariner and soldier
Melanthios – the monkey (used as traitor)
Odysseus – Laertes’ royal son
Dawn – primrose Dawn
Athena – Zeus’ daughter
Athena – Hope of Soldiers
Agelaos – Damastor’s son
Helen – pearl of kings
Suitors – harriers of your wife
Mentor – son of Alkimos
Elatos- the swineherd
Odysseus – the great soldier
Odysseus – raider of cities
Hades – master of black herds
Athena’s shield – the aegis – the unmanning thunder cloud
Odysseus – the shrewd fighter
Phemios – the minstrel – son of Terpis
Zeus – the Enclosure God?
Courtyard altar – sanctuary of Zeus
Medon- prudent Medon
Odysseus – lord of all the tricks of war
Eurykleia – old Nurse
Odysseus – great soldier
Maids that betrayed Odysseus – suitors’ harlots
Aphrodite – sweet Aphrodite
Athena – grey-eyed Athena
Book 23
Eurykleia – old nurse
Penelope – attentive lady
Odysseus – patient hero
Odysseus – great tactician
Phemios – the harper
Penelope – the queen so many courted
Odysseus – Greathearted
Helen – of Argos
Helen – daughter of Zeus and Leda
Dawn – rose
Odysseus – teller of many stories
Poseidon – of the waters
Skylla – the fiend
Teiresias – Theban spirit
Book 24
Hermes – of Kyllene
Hermes – bearing the golden wand
Hermes – pure Deliverer
Aias – noblest of Danaans after Akilleus in strength and beauty
Agamemnon – son of Atreus
Zeus – who loves the play of lightning
Akhilleus – fortunate hero
Akhilleus – son of Peleus
Akhilleus – godlike and glorious
Nereids – of the grey wave
Nestor – venerable
Nestor – proven counselor in the past
nymphs – daughters of the ancient seagod
Thetis – on her silver-slippered feet
Hermes – the Wayfinder
Amphimedon – son of melaneus
Odysseus – raider of cities
Agamemnon – glory of commanders
Odysseus – the great soldier
Odysseus – fortunate
Odysseus – master mariner and soldier
Odysseus – blessed son of old Laertes
Penelope – Ikarios’s faithful daughter
Penelope – mistress of her own heart
Klytaimnestra – the adulteress
the Underworld – under the rim of earth where Death is lord
Sikel – an old slave woman
Penlelope – admirable wife
Odysseus – great tactician
Laertes – old field captain
Laertes – clearheaded
Nerikos – the walled town
Eupeithes – Dad of Antinoos
Halitherses Mastorides – the old forecaster (reads bird flight)
Zeus – Father of us all and king of kings
Zeus – summoner of cloud
Zeus – son of Kronos
Odysseus – son of Laertes and the gods of old
Odysseus – master of land ways and sea ways
Zeus – who views the wide world
Athena – their arbiter
Athena – daughter of Zeus
Athena – who bears the stormcloud as a shield
Sources
Homer, The Odyssey, Translated by Robert Fitzgerald
