Book I
Theron: A citizen of the Doric town of Selinous in Sicily. The father of Charmides.
Heraia: The wife of Theron, and mother of Charmides.
Phalaris: An athlete; the elder brother of Charmides.
Charmides: A young Greek rhapsode, who, hearing a story of the living goddess, Istar of Babylon, becomes inspired with the desire to see and worship her, and sets out from Selinous to journey to Babylon.
Kabir: A Phœnician trader, shipwrecked off the harbor of Selinous, with whom Charmides travels as far as Tyre.
Abdosir: The brother of Kabir, a citizen of Tyre.
Hodo: A Babylonian trader, head of a caravan travelling between Babylon and Tyre, with whom Charmides goes from Tyre to the Great City.
Allaraine: The archetype of song; once a companion spirit of Istar of Babylon.