Leda is the young Queen of Sparta and a mortal woman. She is completely helpless and terrified when suddenly attacked by Zeus, who has taken the physical guise of a bird. Her violation serves as the inciting incident for future generations of war and suffering.

Zeus is the king of the gods. He adopts the disguise of a large swan to approach and violently overpower the mortal Queen of Sparta. He exhibits brutal physical force and casual cruelty, indifferent to the pain his actions cause.

Helen is the partially divine daughter of Leda and Zeus. She grows up to possess extraordinary physical beauty. She becomes the central figure in a devastating conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans when she leaves her husband for a foreign prince.

Menelaus is a Greek king and the husband of Helen. His outrage over his wife's departure with a visiting royal drives him to recruit other Greek rulers to launch a massive military campaign.

Agamemnon is a powerful Greek king and the brother of Menelaus. He joins forces with his brother to wage a decade-long siege against the city of Troy. His involvement pulls his own household into the ongoing chain of violence.

Paris is a Trojan prince who travels to Sparta as a guest of the king. He becomes captivated by Helen's beauty during his visit. His decision to return to his home city with her initiates a destructive war.

Clytemnestra is the queen who remains at home while her husband, King Agamemnon, departs to fight in the siege against Troy. She guards her own resentments during his long absence.