An epithet is a term or phrase that adds further description to a name or place. For our project, we categorized epithets according to whether they had positive, negative, or neutral connotations. For example, the epithet "swiftfooted" carries a positive connotation, the epithet "son of Peleus" carries a neutral connotation, and the epithet "ruthless" carries a negative connotation. Epithets are incredibly common in the works of Homer, appearing in both the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as in the Homeric Hymns.
| Connotation? | Who? | Epithet |
|---|---|---|
| positive | Achilles | swiftfooted son of Peleus |
| positive | Achilles | swift-footed, goodly Achilles |
| neutral | Achilles | Achilles, son of Peleus |
| positive | Achilles | swift-footed, goodly Achilles |
| neutral | Achilles | the son of Peleus |
| neutral | Achilles | the son of Peleus |
| positive | Gods | flashing-eyed Athene |
| positive | Achilles | swift-footed Achilles |
| positive | Achilles | the son of Peleus, swift of foot. |
| neutral | Achilles | the son of Peleus |
| neutral | Achilles | son of Peleus |
| positive | Achilles | swift-footed goodly Achilles |
| neutral | Achilles | the son of Peleus |
| positive | Agamemnon | wide-ruling Agamemnon |
| positive | Achilles | swift-footed, goodly Achilles |
| positive | Agamemnon | the king of men, Agamemnon |
| positive | Hector | goodly Hector |
| negative | Achilles | the ruthless Achilles |
| positive | Hector | goodly Hector |
| neutral | Gods | white-armed Hera |
| neutral | Gods | Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, |
| negative | Achilles | Achilles, sacker of cities |
| positive | Priam | great-hearted Priam |
| positive | Achilles | Achilles, swift of foot |
| positive | Priam | great-hearted Priam |
| neutral | Priam | Priam, son of Dardanus |
| positive | Priam | god-like Priam |
| neutral | Gods | Zeus, son of Cronos |
| positive | Priam | godlike Priam |
| neutral | Achilles | Achilles, Peleus' son |
| positive | Gods | sacred Dawn |
| neutral | Achilles | Achilles son of Pe1eus |
| neutral | Achilles | Achilles Peleus' son |
| positive | Achilles | Achilles swift-footed son of Peleus |
| neutral | Achilles | Achilles, son of Peleus |
| positive | Achilles | Achilles, dear to Zeus |
| positive | Priam | great Priam |
| positive | Priam | godlike Priam |
| positive | Achilles | Achilles like to the gods |
| neutral | Hector | man-slaying Hector |
| neutral | Gods | Zeus, that hurleth the thunderbolt, |
| positive | Priam | godlike Priam |
| positive | Achilles | goodly Achilles |
| neutral | Achilles | swift Achilles |
| positive | Priam | godlike Priam |
| positive | Achilles | thou nurtured of Zeus |
| neutral | Achilles | Achilles, swift of foot |
| neutral | Agamemnon | Agamemnon, shepherd of the host |
| positive | Hector | goodly Hector |
| positive | Priam | godlike Priam |
| positive | Achilles | swift-footed, goodly Achilles |
| positive | Gods | helper Hermes |
| neutral | Priam | Priam |
| negative | Hector | man-slaying Hector |
| positive | Hector | bold Hector |
| positive | Gods | Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered |
| positive | Hector | glorious Hector |
| positive | Priam | Priam, the king fostered of |
| neutral | Hector | horse-taming Hector |