Black Ships Before Troy

Rosemary Sutcliff

63 pages 2-hour read

Rosemary Sutcliff

Black Ships Before Troy

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1993

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Achilles is a half-immortal warrior and the greatest fighter in the Greek army. Blessed with almost complete invulnerability from the waters of the Underworld, his only physical weakness lies in a single spot on his ankle. He is a highly skilled musician and a ferociously proud combatant who actively chooses a short, glorious life over a long, obscure one. His intense personal pride heavily dictates his willingness to fight for the Greek cause.

Key Relationships

Son of Thetis

Son of Peleus

Closest companion of Patroclus

Subordinate commander to Agamemnon

Captor of Briseis

Former student of Chiron

Ally of Odysseus

Enemy of Hector

Opponent of Priam

Opponent of Penthesilea

Odysseus is the king of Ithaca, renowned among the Greek forces for his exceptional intellect and strategic mind. He acts as the primary problem-solver for the Greek army, relying on deceptive strategies, eloquent speeches, and physical disguises to gain advantages over brute force. He enjoys the direct favor of Athene and continuously seeks innovative ways to break the long siege of Troy.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Agamemnon

Favored mortal of Athene

Ally of Achilles

Tactical partner of Diomedes

Secret confidant of Helen

Rival of Ajax

Seeker of Philoctetes

Paris is the handsome, golden-haired prince of Troy whose selfish choices ignite the ten-year war. Raised by a herdsman on Mount Ida, he chooses Aphrodite in a divine beauty contest and claims Helen of Sparta as his promised prize. On the battlefield, he often wears a spotted panther skin but generally avoids direct combat, preferring his great bow over close-quarters fighting.

Key Relationships

Son of Priam

Son of Hecuba

Brother of Hector

Romantic partner of Helen

Former partner of Oenone

Favored mortal of Aphrodite

Enemy of Menelaus

Enemy of Achilles

Hector is the chief war-leader and prince of the Trojans. Unlike his flighty brother Paris, Hector is methodical and duty-bound, taking the defense of his city very seriously. He deeply loves his family and acutely feels the heavy burden of command, fighting bravely against the Greeks despite knowing the bleak prophecies surrounding Troy.

Key Relationships

Son of Priam

Son of Hecuba

Husband of Andromache

Father of Astyanax

Brother of Paris

Enemy of Achilles

Opponent of Ajax

Favored mortal of Apollo

Helen of the Fair Cheeks is widely considered the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. Originally married to King Menelaus of Sparta, she abandons her husband and infant child after falling under Aphrodite's spell and fleeing with Paris. Living within the high walls of Troy, she frequently experiences deep shame regarding Paris's cowardice and harbors a longing to return to her former life.

Key Relationships

Wife of Menelaus

Romantic partner of Paris

Controlled by Aphrodite

Daughter-in-law of Priam

Secret ally of Odysseus

Sister-in-law of Hector

Agamemnon is the High King of Greece, leading the vast coalition of Greek armies across the sea. He is an authoritative and prideful leader who frequently relies on ancient oaths to bind the other kings to his cause. His stubbornness and immense sense of entitlement cause significant internal friction within the Greek camp, particularly regarding the distribution of captured women and war prizes.

Key Relationships

Brother of Menelaus

Commander of Achilles

Captor of Chryseis

Captor of Briseis

Advisee of Nestor

Commander of Odysseus

Cursed by Apollo

Patroclus is Achilles's closest companion, raised and tutored alongside him by the centaur Chiron. Deeply empathetic toward the suffering of the regular Greek soldiers, he acts as the emotional conscience for Achilles when the great warrior's pride keeps him off the battlefield. He possesses great courage and a willingness to risk his own safety to relieve the struggling Greek army.

Key Relationships

Closest companion of Achilles

Former student of Chiron

Inspired by Nestor

Enemy of Hector

Friend of Briseis

Commander of Automedon

Menelaus is the King of Sparta and the original husband of Helen. Outraged by Paris's violation of his hospitality, he invokes a mutual defense oath among the Greek kings to launch the massive invasion of Troy. He is a fierce, capable warrior who deeply desires personal vengeance against the Trojan prince who stole his family and his honor.

Key Relationships

Husband of Helen

Brother of Agamemnon

Sworn enemy of Paris

Ally of Odysseus

Priam is the elderly king of Troy, ruling from the high citadel behind the city's great walls. Years after abandoning Paris, he warmly welcomes his son back into the royal family. He acts kindly toward Helen despite the devastating war she brings to his city, showing remarkable empathy and compassion even when forced to beg enemy warriors for mercy.

Key Relationships

Husband of Hecuba

Father of Hector

Father of Paris

Father of Cassandra

Father-in-law of Helen

Petitioner to Achilles

Host of Penthesilea

Thetis is a sea nymph and the fiercely protective mother of Achilles. Knowing a prophecy that her son will die young in battle, she bathes him in the River Styx to make him invulnerable and later hides him among the maidens of Scyros to prevent him from joining the Greek army. She frequently intercedes with the gods, especially Zeus, to secure favors and advantages for her son.

Key Relationships

Mother of Achilles

Wife of Peleus

Petitioner to Zeus

Hostess to Eris

Client of Hephaestus

The goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, Athene possesses sword-gray eyes and wears gleaming armor. Deeply offended when Paris chooses Aphrodite as the fairest goddess, she fiercely supports the Greeks in the ensuing war. She frequently intervenes in the mortal conflict, favoring leaders who use cunning and strategy over brute force.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Zeus

Divine patron to Odysseus

Scorned by Paris

Rival of Aphrodite

Enemy of Hector

Patron of Diomedes

Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and love who wins the golden apple by promising Paris the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. She heavily favors Paris and actively protects him during battles by whisking him away from danger. She maintains tight control over Helen, using threats and magic to prevent the mortal queen from returning to her original husband.

Key Relationships

Divine protector of Paris

Magical controller of Helen

Rival of Athene

Enemy of Menelaus

Rival of Hera

Zeus is the King of the Gods, holding supreme authority over mortals and immortals alike. He attempts to manage the competing interests of the other gods while directing the overarching flow of the war. He sends prophetic dreams, lightning bolts, and sudden bursts of strength to manipulate the battlefield according to his promises.

Key Relationships

Petitioned by Thetis

Deceiver of Agamemnon

Father of Sarpedon

Brother of Poseidon

Supporting Characters

Nestor is an elderly Greek king known for his levelheadedness and wisdom. He acts as a primary mediator and advisor within the Greek camp, frequently stepping in to offer compromises when tensions run high between the younger, more hotheaded warriors. His strategic advice often directs the Greek army's overarching maneuvers.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Agamemnon

Mediator for Achilles

Father of Antilochus

Impersonated by Zeus

Diomedes is a highly capable and aggressive Greek king and warrior. He frequently partners with Odysseus on stealth missions and espionage, demonstrating both ruthless efficiency and bravery in combat. He refuses to give up the siege even when Agamemnon momentarily considers retreating in defeat.

Key Relationships

Partner of Odysseus

Captor of Dolon

Seeker of Philoctetes

Known as Ajax of Salamis, he is an enormous and powerful Greek warrior. He engages Hector in a brutal, day-long duel that ends in mutual respect and the exchange of gifts. He is fiercely protective of his fellow soldiers but is deeply vulnerable to bouts of volatile pride when his martial contributions are overlooked.

Key Relationships

Opponent of Hector

Rival to Odysseus

Subordinate to Agamemnon

Penthesilea is the young queen of the Amazons, a tribe of fierce women warriors who ride on horseback. Seeking atonement and a glorious death in battle after accidentally killing her sister Hippolyta, she leads her forces fearlessly against the Greeks. Her youth, beauty, and tragic destiny make her a haunting parallel to the Greek hero Achilles.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Ares

Sister of Hippolyta

Ally of Priam

Challenger to Achilles

Andromache is the devoted wife of Hector and mother to their young son, Astyanax. She constantly fears for her husband's life on the battlefield and views the boasting of Trojan allies with deep skepticism. She expresses the civilian anxiety and grief surrounding the endless, brutal conflict.

Key Relationships

Wife of Hector

Mother of Astyanax

Daughter-in-law of Priam

Skeptical of Penthesilea

Hecuba is the Queen of Troy, married to King Priam. She attempts to protect her city by making lavish offerings to Athene, laying jeweled robes at the goddess's statue. She experiences immense grief as she watches her children fight and suffer on the battlefield below.

Key Relationships

Wife of Priam

Mother of Paris

Mother of Hector

Petitioner to Athene

Briseis is a young woman taken as a war prize by Achilles. When Agamemnon is forced to surrender his own captive, he confiscates Briseis, sparking the bitter, war-altering feud between the two Greek leaders. She is deeply valued by Achilles and treats his companions with remarkable kindness despite her captive status.

Key Relationships

Captive of Achilles

Seized by Agamemnon

Friend of Patroclus

Chryseis is the daughter of a prominent Trojan priest of Apollo. Her capture by the High King Agamemnon brings a devastating plague upon the Greek camp, as her father successfully prays to Apollo for her safe return.

Key Relationships

Captive of Agamemnon

Oenone is a wood nymph who possesses deep healing magic. She is Paris's first love, living peacefully with him until he abandons her for the promise of Helen. Harbors deep emotional scars regarding his betrayal, complicating her willingness to use her magic when he needs her most.

Key Relationships

Former partner of Paris

Apollo is the sun god who heavily favors the Trojans. He actively intervenes in combat to protect his favored warriors, breathing life and strength into Hector and ensuring crucial strikes hit their marks against Greek heroes.

Key Relationships

Punisher of Agamemnon

Divine patron of Hector

Divine guide for Paris

Poseidon is the god of the sea and brother to Zeus. He fiercely supports the Greek forces, silently moving among them to grant renewed vigor and courage when their camp is breached. He works subtly to counter Zeus's direct interventions.

Key Relationships

Brother of Zeus

Worshipped by Laocoon

Eris is the goddess of discord whose spiteful actions serve as the catalyst for the entire Trojan War. Furious at being excluded from a royal wedding, she tosses a golden apple inscribed "to the fairest" among the guests, fully aware of the chaos it will cause.

Key Relationships

Uninvited guest of Thetis

Instigator against Aphrodite

Philoctetes is a Greek archer who was abandoned by his comrades for ten years due to a festering, painful dragon bite. He survives by hunting birds and harbors deep bitterness toward the Greek leaders until they return to seek his help fulfilling a vital prophecy.

Key Relationships

Resentful of Odysseus

Convinced by Diomedes

Calchas is a crucial Greek soothsayer. He provides the army with necessary strategic interpretations of divine signs, ultimately advising the leaders that they must abandon brute strength and turn to cunning if they are to successfully breach the walls of Troy.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Agamemnon

Sinon is a relatively unknown Greek soldier chosen for his lack of battlefield fame. He acts as the crucial operative in Odysseus's grand deception, delivering a masterful, tearful lie to the Trojans to convince them to bring the wooden horse into their city.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Odysseus

Doubted by Laocoon

Laocoon is the Trojan high priest of Poseidon. He possesses sharp intuition and immediately recognizes the danger of the giant wooden horse left by the Greeks. He attempts to prove the horse is hollow by throwing a spear at its belly, trying desperately to save his city from deception.

Key Relationships

Priest of Poseidon

Suspicious of Sinon

Cassandra is a princess of Troy and the daughter of King Priam. She is burdened with the gift of prophecy but cursed so that no one will ever believe her true visions. She desperately tries to stop the Trojans from bringing the Greek offering into the city, but her warnings consistently fall on deaf ears.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Priam

Captive of Agamemnon

Xanthus is an immortal horse born of the west wind, serving as one of Achilles's chariot steeds. Gifted with the unique ability to speak by the goddess Hera, the immortal horse feels deep sorrow for the human tragedies of the war and attempts to warn his master of impending doom.

Key Relationships

Steed of Achilles

Mourner of Patroclus

Gifted speech by Hera