An intelligent and cunning Athenian man harboring deep ambitions. He seeks to escape the fines and lawsuits of urban life. Though he initially claims to want a quiet existence, his true drive for power reveals itself when he proposes founding a massive avian city in the sky. He acts highly manipulative, using superior rhetoric to outsmart opponents.

An Athenian man accompanying Peisetairos in search of a carefree life among the birds. Unlike his associate, he genuinely desires a life of ease and practical satisfaction. He lacks the grand ambitions driving the creation of the new sky-city, serving as a comic foil before fading into the background.

A group of twenty-four singers and dancers representing various avian species. They initially view humans with deep suspicion due to generations of being hunted. They are easily persuaded by promises of world domination and prove to be incredibly industrious workers as they build their new skyward city.

The leader of the birds and a former human king from Greek mythology named Tereus. Having lived as both a human and a bird, he possesses a unique perspective, allowing him to mediate between his flock and the newcomers. He maintains a traditional Greek household in the wilderness.

The winged messenger goddess of the Olympian deities. She arrives caught off guard and indignant when her divine authority faces a challenge in the sky. Her hostile encounter with the new rulers marks the beginning of open conflict between traditional gods and avian upstarts.

The rebellious Titan and traditional enemy of Zeus. He sneaks into the birds' territory to share secret intelligence about the starving gods. He acts as a crucial strategic advisor, instructing the new city's founder on exactly what demands to make during peace negotiations.

The god of the sea and the most pompous member of the celestial negotiating team. He cares deeply about maintaining the status and authority of the traditional gods. His haughty diplomatic efforts suffer constantly due to the foolishness of his fellow ambassadors.

A legendary hero and god, depicted as a foolish glutton. His overwhelming desire for a good feast makes him an easy target for political manipulation during the peace talks. He quickly compromises the gods' position for the promise of roasted meat.

A sweet-voiced bird who was formerly the mythical Athenian princess Procne. She assists her husband in gathering the flock with her melodious song, representing the musical grace of the animal kingdom.

A clumsy barbarian god forming the third member of the divine embassy. Lacking a grasp of the Greek language, he serves as the crucial swing vote in negotiations for control of the cosmos.

The divine personification of sovereign power. She represents the ultimate prize in the power struggle for the cosmos, embodying the supreme authority the newly founded avian empire seeks to claim.

An ambitious human surveyor hoping to profit from the founding of the new society. He represents the parasitic bureaucracy of urban life that the city's founders initially fled.

A dithyrambic poet traveling to the new city to peddle his literary wares. Like other human impostors flocking to the sky, he tries to exploit the settlement for personal gain.

An enslaved man forced to haul heavy luggage through the wilderness. He endures the physical labor of the journey as his masters search for a new home.

An enslaved baggage-carrier accompanying the two wandering Athenians. He serves as part of the human entourage venturing into the unknown avian territory.