Salomé is the beautiful princess of Judea, daughter of Queen Herodias and stepdaughter to King Herod Antipas. Described as having golden eyes and pale skin, she is fiercely protective of her own chastity and independence, finding her stepfather's constant attention uncomfortable. She is accustomed to having her way and becomes deeply intrigued by the forbidden voice of the imprisoned prophet Jokanaan.

Jokanaan is an ascetic holy man and prophet held captive by King Herod. Having lived in the desert on locusts and wild honey, his appearance is wild, marked by pale skin and dark hair. He spends his captivity vehemently condemning Queen Herodias for her marriage and prophesying the arrival of a divine savior, remaining entirely immune to worldly temptations or physical desires.

King Herod Antipas is the Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, ruling under the authority of the Roman Empire. He is a vain, superstitious ruler who surrounds himself with fine wine and exotic treasures to ignore his underlying fears. He harbors an inappropriate, obsessive attraction to his stepdaughter Salomé, much to the anger of his pragmatic wife.

Herodias is the queen of Judea, having married King Herod after the death of his brother, her previous husband. She strongly resents the imprisoned prophet Jokanaan for publicly declaring her marriage incestuous and demands his punishment. Unlike her deeply superstitious husband, she views the world through a cold, realistic lens and consistently challenges Herod's erratic behavior.

Also known as Narraboth, he is a young Syrian captain of the guard in King Herod's court. He is entirely captivated by Salomé's beauty, constantly watching her despite repeated warnings from his friend. His infatuation makes him highly vulnerable to manipulation when Salomé demands access to the forbidden prisoner.

The Page is a young servant belonging to Queen Herodias's household. He possesses a cautious and highly superstitious nature, interpreting the strange look of the moon as an omen of impending tragedy. He consistently urges his friend, the captain of the guard, to stop staring at the princess.

Tigellinus is a Roman diplomat and politician representing Emperor Caesar Augustus at Herod's court. He provides a worldly, political perspective, interpreting spiritual prophecies strictly through the lens of Roman imperial power.

The Cappadocian is a pagan guest or servant at the palace. He participates in the theological discussions on the terrace, sharing that he believes his physical gods are dead because they no longer answer his calls.

The executioner is a silent, obedient servant of King Herod's court. He is responsible for carrying out the violent commands of the ruling family, descending into the cistern when officially ordered to do so.