TOP 10 GIRLS OF THE ODYSSEY (SPECIAL MENTION)

 

Sing, muse, of special mentions for my Top 10 Girls of the Odyssey!

For those who doubted I could find ten girls in the Odyssey for my top ten, I even found enough for special mentions, albeit only twelve and almost entirely in fleeting appearances or mentions in Homer’s Odyssey (so this will be a quick list on the spot with no images except my feature image).

 

S-TIER (GODDESS TIER)

 

(1) HELEN OF TROY

 

Well, obviously, given that she’s second top spot in my Top 10 Girls of Mythology. She does get a reasonably substantial appearance too, having reconciled with Menelaus and returning home with him as queen of Sparta. She and Menelaus are hosts to a visit of Telemachus searching for news of Odysseus.

She gets special mention to herself as she canonically mogs all other girls of the Iliad or Odyssey.

Yes, she’s in the Nolan film, played by Lupita Nyong’o – a casting choice that prompted reasonable responses from everyone and that’s all I’ll say about it.

 

B-TIER (HIGH TIER)

 

(2) ANTICLEA

 

Odysseus’ mother – he sees her shade in the underworld, much to his sorrow (and hers).

Not in the Nolan film.

 

(3) EURYCLEIA

 

Odysseus’s nurse, one of the remaining loyal servants to him (and recognizes him in disguise from his scar).

She’s in the Nolan film.

 

(4) ARETE

 

Queen of the Phaeacians and mother of Nausicaa – like her husband Alcinous and the rest of the royal household of the Phaeacians, they were gracious hosts to Odysseus and helped him to finally return to Ithaca

Not in the Nolan film.

 

(5) CLYTEMNESTRA

 

Wife of the Agamemnon, who famously killed him on his return, as the shade of Agamemnon tells Odysseus in the underworld as a cautionary warning for the latter’s own homecoming.

She’s in the Nolan film, played by Lupita Nyong’o as Helen’s twin rather than half-sister.

 

(6) CASSANDRA

 

Ill-fated princess of Troy, given the gift of prophecy but cursed that no one would ever believe her – taken captive by Agamemnon and shared his fate.

Not in the Nolan film.

 

X-TIER (WILD TIER)

 

(7) HELIADES

 

The daughters of the sun god Helios, tending to his cattle.

Not in the Nolan film, although the cattle were.

 

(8) WOMEN OF THE UNDERWORLD

 

Various shades of famous female figures from classical mythology seen by Odysseus in the underworld.

Not in the Nolan film.

 

(9) POLYDAMNA

 

Egyptian woman who supplied the soothing drug nepenthe to Helen – and Helen gave it to Menelaus and Telemachus.

Not in the Nolan film.

 

(10) CTIMENE

 

Odysseus’ younger sister and princess of Ithaca, mentioned in passing.

Not in the Nolan film.

 

(11) POLYMELE

(12) CALLIDICE

 

Okay – these two special mentions are a bit of a cheat, as they are not in the Odyssey but were added later as shacking up with Odysseus, making them girls of Odysseus rather than girls of the Odyssey.

Polymele is the daughter of the wind god Aeolus (neither of which were in the Nolan film).

Callidice is queen of Thespotria in the Telegony as sequel to the Odyssey.