Irus
Irus and Odysseus fighting
Irus and Odysseus fighting

Irus (EYE-rus) is the nickname of the beggar Arnaeus, who was a willing conspirator with the suitors of Penelope in the Odyssey. When Odysseus returns disguised as a beggar Irus challenges him to a boxing match. Odysseus wins in a single blow.

Cleathes the stoic
Cleathes the stoic

Cleanthes (Klee-on-thes) was a stoic philosopher in Athens around 300BCE. He began a a boxer, before arriving in Athens and taking up philosophy.

Hermes (HER-mees) is the Greek messenger god. He is one of the Olympians, and is a patron of boundaries and travelers who cross them, as well as Shepherds, cowherds, thieves, orators, poets, invention, commerce, cunning an athletes. He is perhaps one of the best known of the Greek Gods.

Leon (LEE-on) he name Leon means lion, from the Greek Leo. There have been many famous Leon's, among them was a King of Sparta in the late 500BCE, and Leon of Pella, a Macedonian who wrote a book on the Gods of Egypt based on an apocryphal letter from Alexander the Great to his mother.

Irus is the Blind Beggar. He tells the audience that he is a shepherd’s boy born in Memphis, and that he is also disguised as Duke Cleanthes, the Mad Count Hermes, and the usurer Leon. He is the main character of the play, and is in almost every scene. As Hermes and Leon he marries Elimine and Samanthis, then has affairs with his alter ego’s wives. Eventually Hermes and Leon are “killed off” leaving the sisters pregnant and needing husbands. Duke Cleanthes thwarts the invading kings, and becomes the King of Egypt.

A sculpture of Hermes
A sculpture of Hermes
A lion, raaawr
A lion, raaawr
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