The King Must Die is the story of Theseus, hero of Greek myth, but addressed through the lens of the real-world archeological record. The story removes the mythical elements of Theseus's journey and substitutes a more realistic narrative without monsters, gods, or supernatural events. It follows Theseus from his childhood in Troizen and throughout his life as a wandering soldier, sailor, and merchant until he reaches Naxos where he reigns as king in his prime.
Theseus : The protagonist. A Hellene king and son of a king who compensates for his small, light build with agility and ingenuity. King of Eleusis and son of King Aigeus of Athens, he is an aggressive leader who combines touchy pride with a drive for social and cultural change. He has a strong sense of destiny and a belief that he is guided by his god and also that his duty is to look after his people. For that reason, he is called the Shepherd of Athens. Though only seventeen for most of the novel, he is also a skilled warrior, hunter, bull-dancer, and lover. His views towards women are reactionary when judged by modern Western standards but are presumably either typical or even enlightened for his time period. He shows respect for the earth mother goddess but clearly looks to the male Sky gods as his main benefactors. For example, though he is angered by his exclusion from governing by the Eleusinian Queen Persephone and threatens force to obtain what he believes is the respect and honor due him, he never actually undertakes any personal revenge upon her, sparing her life and letting her freely leave Eleusis despite at least four separate attempts by her or her agents to kill him. His liberal views towards the homosexuality and bisexuality of some of his companions are tolerant, even when judged by modern Western standards, perhaps reflecting the greater tolerance of such "customs" in ancient Greece.
Ariadne : The beautiful young daughter of King Minos. High Priestess by right of birth, she is revered as a goddess incarnate by the native Cretans. The effete Minoan aristocracy has however lost belief in the religion that she represents. Gentle and timid at first, she falls in love with Theseus and helps him escape from Crete. During the voyage to Athens they stop at the island of Naxos where she joins the maenads in the yearly Dionysiac orgy. Appalled by her bloody role in the sacrifice of the king of Naxos, Theseus abandons her on that island.
Asterion : The Minotauros. He is heir to King Minos of Crete, though actually the product of adultery between Minos' queen and an Assyrian bull-dancer. Crude, ruthless and clever, Asterion has succeeded in isolating his nominal father, the dying Minos, and is positioning himself to take the throne. Asterion regards Theseus as a "mainland savage" but, desiring the best of everything, purchases him as a bull- dancer in the way that he might buy a horse with stamina and speed.
Minos : the title given to the rulers of Crete during the thousand-year history of an advanced civilisation centred on the vast palace (Labyrinth) of Knossos. On the eve of the great earthquake that destroys the Labyrinth, the last Minos is a sick man who is losing power to his hated heir Asterion. Using Ariadne as an intermediary, Minor enters into an alliance with Theseus.
Aigeus : The King of Athens and Theseus's father. A valiant and virile man in his younger days, he is in his fifties, tired and cynical by the time Theseus meets him. His people are troublesome, his nobles powerful, and he is worn out from decades of endeavoring to keep the peace and retain his authority. Theseus respects Aigeus but cannot admire him, for he is over-cautious.
Persephone : The 27-year-old queen of Eleusis, whom no one is permitted to name. Beautiful, sexually skilled, and devoted to the earth goddess, she follows the custom of making Theseus kill her current husband and King so that he can become the next 1 year king and marry her. But he turns out to be more than she bargained for, empowering himself and the downtrodden men of Eleusis, finally using his personal and political skills to persuade the men to impose their rule on the women instead. Four times she attempts to kill him or have him killed, and attempts suicide when she fails. Her ultimate fate is not known.
Amyntor : An Eleusinian bull-dancer, Theseus's right-hand among the Cranes in Crete. A big, black-haired, hawk-nosed teenager, he is too heavy for bull-leaping, so he serves to catch the leaper as he or she descends. Theseus trusts and loves him better than any other person.
Pittheus : The King of Troizen and Theseus's grandfather. He is a good king, for he is wise, just, and devoted to his people's welfare. Theseus looks up to him, despite the occasional reproof or thrashing the old king deals him.
Aithra : The 33-year-old high priestess of Troizen, Theseus's mother, and Pittheus's daughter. Theseus reciprocates her deep love for him.
Medea : King Aigeus's lover, she wants the Athenian throne for her two sons and persuades Aigeus to poison Theseus. When her plot fails, she pronounces a curse on Theseus and vanishes from Athens.
Xanthos : The cold-hearted, red-haired, pale-faced brother of Queen Persephone of Eleusis, and the chief general of the Eleusinians. On his sister's orders, he tries to have Theseus assassinated. Theseus then kills him in single combat.
Pylas : The prince of Megara. Theseus meets him on the boar hunt in the hills between Eleusis and Megara. Only a few years older than Theseus, he nevertheless respects the other's prowess and intelligence, and joins him to assault the bandit strongholds in the Isthmus.
The Corinthian : The best bull-dancer in Crete—until he lays down his life in the ring for a comrade soon after the Cranes arrive. Theseus idolizes him because he is such a consummate bull-dancer.
Chryse, Helike, Melantho, Thebe, Nephele, Rhene, Pylia : The seven female Cranes.
Iros, Hippon, Menesthes, Telamon, Phormion : The five male Cranes (apart from Theseus and Amyntor).
Lukos : a Cretan officer who commands a detachment of African warriors in the service of King Minos. Sent to collect the tribute of fourteen youths and maidens from Athens, Lukos serves as an example of the polished and sophisticated courtiers of the Labyrinth in contrast to the crude but energetic values of mainland Greece.
Kerkyon : The 20-year-old, strongly built year-king of Eleusis. The name 'Kerkyon' is given to all year-kings: his real name is not given. Theseus kills him in a wrestling match.
Thalestris : A skilled Amazonian bull-dancer and valiant warrior.
Simo : A small boy who mocks Theseus's fatherlessness in Troizen.
Phaedra : Theseus' later wife; now a child, she idolises him as a handsome bull dancer and he is brought to comfort her when she thinks that he has been killed. In this novel, there is an incipient tenderness between them but Renault seems to change her mind and never allows this to flourish in the sequel.
Poseidon : Theseus's great patron god. He rules the waters, protects horsemanship, and causes earthquakes.
Apollo : Theseus's other patron god, a god of light, music, healing and prophecy. He inspires sudden bursts of insight.
Mother Dia : Gaia, goddess of fertility and the earth, worshiped most by the Eleusinians and Cretans.
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