Literary Personography

This page lists literary figures including allegorical, mythological, Biblical, and dramatic characters. Click on a name to see where they are mentioned. Click on a link for more information.
Name Life dates and biographical information Related Resources
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was the most famous Greek hero in the Trojan war. Central character in Homer’s Iliad. Son of the mortal Peleus and the sea nymph Thetis.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Æolus
Greek god of winds. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Aer
Personification of the element of air. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
OR
 
Aestas
Personification of the season of summer. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Æstas
Roman personification of the season of summer. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Africa
Personification of the continent of Africa. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Aglaia
Personifies splendour, one of the three Graces in Greek mythology. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Agnites
Personification of purity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral pageants.
 
Albanact
Third son of Brute. Upon his father’s death, Albanact was given dominion of a section of Britain that was called Albania after him. This country was later known as Scotland.
Wikipedia
 
Albania
Allegorical character in Anthony Munday’s The Triumphs of Re-united Britannia who personifies the geographic area of Albania, later known as Scotland.
 
Albion
Fictional son of Neptune, who conquered Samothes’ Celtica before changing the country’s name to Albion.
Perseus
 
Ambition
Personification of ambition. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Amble  
America
Personification of the continents of America. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Amphion
In Greek mythology, Amphion and his twin brother Zetheus were the sons of Zeus by Antiope. Amphion’s wife was Niobe. He became a great musician and helped build the wall of Thebes. The stones would follow the sound of his lyre and move into place.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Amphitrita
Fictional wife of Neptune and roman god of the sea.
BAE
Perseus
 
Anthony Dull
Dramatic character in Love’s Labour’s Lost.
ISE
 
Antiquity
English personification of antiquity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows. See also Philoponia.
 
Apollo
An influential Greek deity with multiple meanings and functions. Since the time of Homer, he has been defined as the god of divine distance.
BAE
EM
 
Aqua
Personification of the element of water. Allegorical character in mayoral shows.
OR
 
Arete
Greek personification of goodness and virtue. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows. Also referred to as Vertue.
OR
 
Argonauts
Greek mythological heroes who accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest for the Golden Fleece.
Perseus
Wikipedia
 
Argurion
Personification of silver. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows. The character is a nymph of Mulciber’s Myne.
 
Arion
A mythical Greek poet and musician. Kidnapped by pirates but rescued by a dolphin attracted by his final song.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Arithmetic
Personification of arithmetic, one of the liberal sciences. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Asia
Personification of the continent of Asia. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Astrae
The constellation Virgo, identified by Aratus with Justice (Gk. Dikē), the last deity to leave the earth.
OR
Perseus
 
Astronomy
Personification of astronomy, one of the liberal sciences. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Auditus
Personification of hearing. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Authority
English personification of authority. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Autumne
Personification of the season of autumn. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Bacchus
Roman god of wine and ecstasy.
BAE
EM
 
Barbarism
Personification of barbarism. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Bard
A character representing one of the many bards of Britain. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Bardus
Mythical inventor of music and ditties. Spawned a line of poets who came to be known as the Bards.
 
Black Will
Dramatic character in When You See Me, You Know Me.
 
Bounty
Personification of goodness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Boy of the Royal Exchange
A character representing a boy on the ship called the Royal Exchange. Appears as a character in mayoral pageants.
 
Britannia
Personification of Britain. Appears as an allegorical character in The Triumph of Re-united Britannia.
 
Brontes
Cyclops servant of Vulcan, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
 
Brute
Mythical founder of London.
OR
Wikipedia
 
Bumpsey
Character in Richard Brome’s The Damoiselle.
 
Calais
In Greek mythology, Calais was a son of Boreas and Oreithyia and one of Jason’s Argonauts.
Wikipedia
 
Calcos
Calcos, a nymph of Mulciber’s Myne, appears in mayoral shows.
 
Calliope
Foremost of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of epic poetry. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Calumny
Personification of slander and defamation. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Camber
Second son of Brute. Upon his father’s death, Camber was given dominion over a section of Britain that was called Cambria after him. This country later became known as Wales.
OR
Wikipedia
 
Cambria
Allegorical character in The Triumph of Re-united Britannia who personifies the geographic area of Cambria, later known as Wales.
 
Canby  
Care
Personification of care. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Careless  
Castor
In Greco-Roman mythology, Castor, along with his twin brother, Pollux. participated in the hunting of the Calydonian Boar and joined the crew of Jason’s ship, the Argo. The twins are known as the Dioscuri.
Wikipedia
 
Ceres
Roman goddess of agriculture, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Champion
A character representing the Queen’s Champion. Appears in mayoral shows.
 
Charity
Personification of Charity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Chastity
Personification of chastity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Chrusos
Personification of gold in mayoral shows. The character is a nymph of Mulciber’s Myne.
 
Chthoon
Personification of earth. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
City
Personification of civic institution of the City. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Clio
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of history. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Commiseration
Personification of commiseration. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Common Wealth
Personification of Common Wealth. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Concord
Personification of Concord. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Corineus the Briton
One of the Guildhall Giants and mythical companion of Brutus the Trojan. Slayed the native giant Gogmagog.
OR
Wikipedia
 
Counsel
Personification of counsel. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Country
Personification of the nation and land. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Courage
Personification of courage. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Dame Overdo
Dramatic character in Bartholomew Fair (Justice Adam Overdo’s wife).
 
Danaus
In Greek myth, father of 50 daughters, called the Danaides.
Wikipedia
 
David ap Williams
Welsh bard.
 
David Die
Welsh bard.
 
Death
Personification of death. Appears as an allegorical figure in mayoral shows.
 
Deborah
Old Testament prophet and heroine.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Desert
Personification of worthiness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Desire
Personification of desire. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Disdain
Personification of disdain. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Doctor Nowell
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody.
 
Dogberry
The constable in Much Ado About Nothing.
ISE
Wikipedia
 
Druis
Legendary King of Britain who founded the Druids.
Wikipedia
 
Duke Vincentio
Dramatic character in Measure for Measure.
 
Elaskirion
Bard.
 
Elbow
The constable in Measure for Measure.
ISE
 
Eleutherios
Personification of liberty. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
OR
 
Elizabeth I
Dramatic character appearing in many post-1603 plays.
 
England
Personification of England. In British legend, the area known as England was called Logres, which is personified as Loegria.
 
Envy
Personification of envy. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Epimeleia
Personification of trust. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Erato
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of lyric and erotic poetry or hymns. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Eros
Greek god of love. Also appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
Oxford Reference
BAE
 
Error
Personification of error. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Escalus
Dramatic character in Measure for Measure.
ISE
 
Estrildis
Lover of Locrine, by whom she had a daughter, Sabrina. Mother and daughter were drowned in the river Severn by his vengeful wife, Gwendoline.
 
Eternity
Personification of eternity. Appears as an allegorical figure in mayoral shows.
 
Euphrates
River-god of Assyria in Greek mythology.
THEOI
 
Euphrosyne
In Greek mythology, one of the three graces and also the goddess of joy, mirth, or happiness.
Wikipedia
 
Europa
Personification of the continent of Europe. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Euterpe
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of music or flute playing. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Example
Personification of Example. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Expectation
Personification of expectation. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Faith
Personification of Faith. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Falsehood
Personification of falsehood. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Falstaff
Dramatic character in 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Mentioned in Henry V.
ISE
BAE
 
Fame
Personification of fame. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Fear
Personification of fear. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Fidelity
Personification of fidelity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Firk
Dramatic character in The Shoemaker’s Holiday.
 
First Malcontent
First personification of malcontent. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
First Nymph
A minor female nature deity, drawn from Greek and Latin mythology. Appears as acharacter in mayoral shows.
 
Flora
Roman goddess of flowers, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Fortitude
Personification of fortitude. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Fortune
Personification of fortune. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
The Four Winds
The Anemoi, Greek wind gods. Appear as a set of four allegorical characters in mayoral shows.
 
Fourth Nymph
A minor female nature deity, drawn from Greek and Latin mythology. Appears as a character in mayoral shows.
 
Francis Flute
Mechanical in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
 
The Frenchman
A character representing the French. Appears in mayoral shows.
 
Friar Tuck
Companion of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
Wikipedia
 
Ganges
River-god of India in Greek mythology.
THEOI
 
Gehazi
Avaricious servant who appears in the Book of Kings, Old Testament.
OR
Wikipedia
 
Geometry
Personification of geometry, one of the liberal sciences. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Gerrard the Giant
Giant who supposedly dwelled at the site of Gerrard’s Hall.
 
Giant
Personification of the Iron Age of human history. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Gilbert Hood
Legendary relative (sometimes brother, sometimes uncle) of Robin Hood. Supposed lord abbot of Christall [i.e., Kirkstall] Abbey.
 
Gloucester
Character in William Shakespeare’s King Lear.
 
Gluttony
Personification of gluttony. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
God’s Truth
Personification of God’s Truth. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Gogmagog the Albione
One of the Guildhall Giants. Killed by Corineus the Briton.
BHO
BHO
 
Goodworks
Personification of Christian actions and deeds. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Grace
Personification of grace. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Grammar
Personification of grammar, one of the liberal sciences. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Gravity
Personification of graveness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Gustus
Personification of tasting. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Gwendoline
Wife to Locrine in The Triumphes of Re-united Britannia.
OR
 
Hans
Dutch server in Thomas Dekker and John Webster’s Westward Ho!.
 
Hans Lacey
Dramatic character in The Shoemaker’s Holiday.
 
Happiness
Personification of happiness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Harmony
Personification of harmony. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Health
Personification of health. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Hector
Trojan prince and hero. Slain by Achilles. Central character in Homer’s Illiad.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek god Heracles, son of Zeus and Alcmene. Hewas famous for his strength.
Wikipedia
 
Him that Rideth on the Merman
An unnamed character who appears in mayoral shows.
 
Him that Rideth on the Unicorn
An unnamed character who appears in mayoral shows.
 
Himatia
Personification of clothing and drapery. Appears as an allegorical character in the mayoral shows.
 
History
Personification of history, depicted as a character in mayoral pageants.
 
Honesty
Sargent in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody.
 
Honor
Personification of honor. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Hope
Personification of hope. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Hostility
Personification of hostility. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Humber
Leader of the Huns. Invaded Albania and killed Albanact, third son of Brute. Killed in retaliation by Locrine and Camber. He drowned in a nearby river, which was then re-named in his honour.
OR
 
Humber
Personification of the River Humber.
 
Hyems
Personification of the season of winter. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Hypomone
Personifies steadfastness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Ignis
Personification of the element of fire. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
OR
 
Ignorance
Personification of ignorance. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Impudence
Personification of impudence. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
India
Allegorical character in The Triumphs of Honor and Industry who personifies the geographic area and culture of India.
 
Industry
Personification of industry. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Innocence
Personification of innocence. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Innogen
Wife of Brute, mythical founder of London. Daughter to Pandrasus.
 
Integrity
Personification of integrity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Isabel
Richard’s wife in Shakespeare’s Richard II.
 
Isis
Personification of the Isis, the portion of the Thames River that flows through Oxford. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
Wikipedia
 
Jack Straw
Character representing Jack Straw, leader of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381.
 
Japhet
Third son of Noah to whom dominion of Europe was given following the great flood.
 
Jason
Greek mythological hero known for his role as the leader of the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece.
Wikipedia
 
John Gresham
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody.
 
John Rowland
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody, nicknamed Tawny-Coat.
 
Jollo Gough
Welsh bard.
 
Jupiter
Jupiter is the Roman god of the sky.
Wikipedia
 
Justice
Personification of lawfulness and fairness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Kind
Personification of kindness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
King Chiorison
Dramatic character in Anthony Munday’s Chrusothriambos. Married to Tumanama.
 
King Costus
Traditionally considered the father of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
 
King David (b. 1040 BCE, d. 970 BCE)
Biblical king of Israel and Judah. The Gospels of Matthew and John list him as an ancestor of Jesus.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
King Lud
Mythical king who supposedly gave his name to London (Lud’s Town).
OR
 
King Midas
Legendary king who turned everything he touched into gold.
EM
Wikipedia
 
King of the Moors
A fictional representation of the king of the Moors. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Knowledge
Personification of knowledge/ Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Labour
Personification of Labour. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Lady Haughty
Dramatic character in Epicœne.
 
Lady Ramsey
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody.
 
Law
Personification of the institution of law. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Learning
Personfication of learning. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Leofstane
Goldsmith and magistrate of London. Father of Alwine and Robert. Appears as a dramatic character in Chrusothriambos.
 
Leviathan
Leviathan is a sea monster in the Old Testament.
Wikipedia
 
Liberality
Personification of liberality. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Lickfinger
Character in Ben Jonson’s The Staple of News.
 
Little John
Legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood. Chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men.
Wikipedia
 
Locrine
First son of Brute. Upon his father’s death, Locrine was given dominion over a section of Britain, which was named Loegres or Loegria after him. This country later became known as England.
OR
 
Loegria
Allegorical character in The Triumph of Re-united Britannia who personifies the geographic area of Logres, later known as England.
 
Logic
Personification of logic, one of the liberal sciences. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
London
Allegorical character representing the city of London. See also the allegorical character representing Roman London, Troya-Nova.
 
London’s Genius
Personification of London’s genius. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Love
Personification of love. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Loyalty
Personification of Loyalty. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral pageants.
 
Lucio
Dramatic character in Measure for Measure.
 
Luna
Personification of the moon. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Macbeth
Eponymous character in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
 
Magnanimity
Personification of Magnanimity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral pageants.
 
Magus
Legendary King of Britain.
Wikipedia
 
Maid Marian
Companion of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
Wikipedia
 
Majesty
Personification of majesty. Appears as an allegorical figure in mayoral shows.
 
Mallice
Personification of malice. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Marrall  
Mars
Roman god of war.
Wikipedia
 
Master Gunner
A character representing the Master Gunner, an early modern military figure. Appears as a character in mayoral shows.
 
Master Gunner’s Mate
A character representing the Master Gunner’s Mate, an early modern military figure. Appears as a character in mayoral shows.
 
Master Linstock  
Master of the Royal Exchange
A character representing the Master of the ship called the Royal Exchange. Appears as a character in mayoral pageants.
 
Master Slender  
Mate of the Royal Exchange
A character representing the Mate of the ship called the Royal Exchange. Appears as a character in mayoral pageants.
 
Medea
Greek mythological figure who was the wife of Jason and the daughter of King Aeëtesof Colchis.
Wikipedia
 
Medway
Personification of the Medway River. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Meekness
Personification of meekness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Melkin
Bard.
BAE
 
Melpomene
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of tragedy or lyre playing. Also appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Memory
English personification of memory. Appears as an allegorical character in the shows pageants. Handmaiden of Majesty. See also Mnamae.
 
Merchandise
Personification of merchandise. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows. See also Traffic.
 
Mercury
Roman god of merchandise and merchants.
BAE
EM
 
Mercy
Personification of mercy. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Merlin
Wizard, prophet and advisor to King Arthur.
OR
 
Michael
Archangel, leader of the God’s armies who defeated Satan’s forces.
Wikipedia
 
Mistress Overdone
Dramatic character in Measure for Measure.
ISE
 
Mistress Quickly
Hostess at the Boar’s Head Tavern in 1 Henry IV.
ISE
 
Mnamae
Greek personification of memory. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows. Attendant to Chrusos and Argurion. See also Memory.
 
Moderation
Personification of moderation. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Modesty
Personification of modesty. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Moor
An unnamed character in the mayoral shows.
 
Moses
Biblical prophet and attributed author of the Pentateuch.
BAE
 
Mother Bunch
Dramatic character in The Shoemaker’s Holiday.
 
Much the Miller’s Son
Legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood and one of his Merry Men.
Wikipedia
 
Mulciber
Mulciber is an alternate name for the god Vulcan. He appears in mayoral shows as the god of mines.
Wikipedia
 
Muses
The Greek goddesses of music, song, and dance. Invoked in some mayoral shows.
THEOI
 
Music
Personification of music, one of the liberal sciences. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Nature
Personification of nature. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Neptune
Roman god of the sea.
BAE
EM
 
Nicholas Faringdon
A character in mayoral pageants based on the fourteenth-century lord mayor, Nicholas Fardingdon.
 
Nick Bottom
Mechanical in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
 
Nilus
Greek god of the Nile, son of Oceanus and Tethys.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Noah
Biblical monarch of the world following the great flood.
BAE
 
Nobility
Personification of nobility. Appears as an allegorical figure in mayoral shows.
 
Obedience
Personification of obedience. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Oceanus
Personification of the great river that the Greeks believed encircled the world. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Old Hobson
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody and fictional character in jest books.
 
Olfactus
Personification of hearing. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Oppression
Personification of oppression. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Oronius
Bard.
 
Orpheus
In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a musician, poet, and prophet. He was a companion and the harpist of Jason and the Argonauts.
Wikipedia
 
Pandrasus
King of Greece and father-in-law to Brute.
Mythology Dictionary
 
Peace
Personification of peace. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Peleus
In Greek mythology, Peleus married the sea nymph Thetis and was the father of Achilles.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Perfect Love
Personification of perfect love. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Perfection
Personification of perfection. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Pheme
Personification of popular rumour. She appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
 
Philoponia
Greek personification of Antiquity. Appears as allegorical character in mayoral shows. See also Antiquity.
 
Piety
Personification of piety. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Plenidius
Bard.
 
Plenty
Personification of abundance. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Poins
Dramatic character in 1 Henry IV and 2Henry IV.
ISE
 
Policy
Personification of Policy. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Pollux
In Greco-Roman mythology, Pollux, along with his twin brother, Castor, participated in the hunting of the Calydonian Boar and joined the crew of Jason’s ship, the Argo. The twins are known as the Dioscuri.
Wikipedia
 
Polymnia
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of dancing or geometry. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Pomona
Roman goddess of fruitful abundance, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Pompey
Dramatic character in Measure for Measure.
ISE
 
Presenter
Figure in Decensus Astraeae.
 
Prince Hal
Dramatic character in 1 Henry IV and 2 Henry IV.
 
Prosperity
Personification of prosperity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Providence
Personification of providence. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Pyracmon
Cyclops servant of Vulcan, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
 
Pyramus
Lover from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. He is played by Nick Bottom in the play-within-the-play in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
 
Queen of the Moors
A fictional representation of the queen of the Moors. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Queen Tumanama
Dramatic character in Anthony Munday’s Chrusothriambos. Wife of Chiorison.
 
Quick
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody.
 
Rafe
Dramatic character in The Shoemaker’s Holiday.
 
Religion
Personification of religion. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Reward
Personification of reward. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Rhetoric
Personification of rhetoric, one of the liberal sciences. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Richard II
Fictional representation of Richard II. Appears as a character in Shakespeare’s Richard II and in mayoral shows, for instance.
 
Right-Hitting Brand
Legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood and one of his Merry Men, according to Anthony Munday.
 
Riot
Personification of uprising and disorder. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Robin Hood
Legendary English outlaw hero.
ODNB
Wikipedia
 
Rumour
Personification of hearsay and rumour. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Sabrina
Daughter of Locrine and Estrildis.
OR
OR
 
Sailor
Stock sailor character. Appears as a speaker in mayoral shows.
 
Saint John the Baptist
Jewish itinerant preacher in the early first century and major figure in Christianity.
Wikipedia
 
Samothes
Sixth son of Japhet and first king of Celtica, the area of Europe now known as England.
 
Saron
Legendary King of Britain.
Wikipedia
 
Satan
In the Christian tradition, the angel who fell from Heaven, also believed to be the serpent in the Garden of Eden who tempted Eve. In early modern thought, Satan is the principal devil.
Wikipedia
 
Saturn
Roman god, father of Jupiter.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Saverne
Personification of River Severn, which was named for Sabrina, the daughter of Locrine.
 
Sceropes
Cyclops servant of Vulcan, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
 
Science
Personification of Science. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral pageants.
 
Sea Nymph
A minor female nature deity, drawn from Greek and Latin mythology. Appears as a character in mayoral shows.
 
Second Malcontent
Second personification of malcontent. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Second Nymph
A minor female nature deity, drawn from Greek and Latin mythology. Appears as a character in mayoral shows.
 
The Shepherd  
Short
Character in Thomas Middleton’s Michaelmas Terme.
 
Sideros
Personification of iron in mayoral shows. The character is a nymph of Mulciber’s Myne.
Wikipedia
 
Simon Eyre
Dramatic character in Thomas Dekker’s The Shoemaker’s Holiday and Thomas Deloney’s The Gentle Craft.
 
Simplicity
Personification of simplicity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Sir Petronel Flash
Dramatic character in Eastward Ho!.
 
Sir Thomas Gresham
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody.
 
Sir Thomas Ramsey
Dramatic character in If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody, Part 2.
 
Sloth
Personification of laziness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Soldier
Stock soldier character. Appears as a speaker in mayoral shows.
 
Solomon (fl. between 1000 BCE and 901 BCE)
King of Israel and son of David.
BAE
 
Sons of Boreas
In Greek mythology, Calais and Zethes were the sons of Boreas, god of the north wind.
Wikipedia
 
Sophrosyne
Personification of self-control, temperance, and soundness of mind. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
OR
 
The Spaniard
A character representing the Spanish. Appears in mayoral shows.
 
Spirit of Poesie
The muse of poetry.
 
St. Andrew
Fictional character in mayoral shows based on the historical and mythological figure.
 
St. Catherine of Alexandria (d. between 301 and 400)
Christian martyr who protested the persecution of Christians in Roman Egypt.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
St. George
Fictional character in mayoral shows based on the historical and mythological figure.
 
St. Michael
One of the archangels in the BIble and the Qurʾān.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
St. Peter the Apostle (d. 64)
An early disciple of Jesus Christ.
BAE
Wikipedia
 
Steadfastness
Personification of steadfastness. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Suceess
Personification of success. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Superstition
Personification of Superstition. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Swash  
Tactus
Personification of touching. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Tagus
River-god of Tagus in Greek mythology.
THEOI
 
Tapeinotes
Personification of humility and modesty. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
OR
 
Telamon
In Greek mythology, Telamon was one of Jason’s Argonauts.
Wikipedia
 
Terpsichore
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of dancing, chorus, or lyric poetry. Also appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Terra
Personification of the element of earth. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
OR
 
Thalestine
Bard.
 
Thalia
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of comedy. Also appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Thamesis
Personification of the River Thames. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Thetis
Nymph or goddess of water. One of the fifty nereids. Mother of Achilles.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Third Nymph
A minor female nature deity, drawn from Greek and Latin mythology. Appears as a character in mayoral shows.
 
Thisbe
Lover from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. She is played by Francis Flute in the play-within-the-play in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
 
Throat
Character in Lording Barry’s Ram Alley.
 
Time
Personification of time. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Timothy Thinbeard
Dramatic character in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody.
 
Titan
Personification of the Greek Titans, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
 
Tom Snout
Mechanical in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
 
Tom Strowd  
Traffic
Personification of traffic. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows. See also Merchandise.
 
Tranquility
Personification of tranquility. Appears as an allegorical figure in mayoral shows.
 
Treason
Personification of treason. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Troya-Nova (alias New Troy)
Allegorical character in mayoral shows who personifies the geographic area and settlement of Roman London. See also the character of London.
 
Truth
Personification of truth. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Truth’s Angel
An allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Unity
Personification of unity. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Urania
One of the nine muses in Greek mythology, patron of astronomy. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
BAE
EM
 
Venus
Roman goddess of beauty.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Ver
Personification of the season of spring. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Vesta
Greek goddess of heath and home.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Vigilancy
Personification of vigilance. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Virtue
Personification of virtue. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows. See also Arete.
 
Visus
Personification of seeing. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Vulcan
Roman god of fire and smithery, depicted as a character in mayoral shows.
EM
Wikipedia
 
Walter Warfield
Built gates at Westminster Palace during the reign of Edward III.
 
War
Personification of war and violence. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Wasp
Dramatic character in Bartholomew Fair.
 
Wealth
Personification of wealth. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Will Scarlet
Legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood and one of his Merry Men.
Wikipedia
 
William Downe  
William Lily (b. 1468, d. 1522)
Author of Antibossicon.
 
Wisdom
Personification of wisdom. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Worth
Personfication of worth. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Zeale
Personification of zeal. Appears as an allegorical character in mayoral shows.
 
Zethes
In Greek mythology, Zethes was a son of Boreas and Oreithyia and one of Jason’s Argonauts.
Wikipedia
 

References

Cite this page

MLA citation

Literary Personography. The Map of Early Modern London, edited by Janelle Jenstad, U of Victoria, 20 Jun. 2018, mapoflondon.uvic.ca/literary_personography.htm.

Chicago citation

Literary Personography. The Map of Early Modern London. Ed. Janelle Jenstad. Victoria: University of Victoria. Accessed June 20, 2018. http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/literary_personography.htm.

APA citation

2018. Literary Personography. In J. Jenstad (Ed), The Map of Early Modern London. Victoria: University of Victoria. Retrieved from http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/literary_personography.htm.

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Provider: University of Victoria
Database: The Map of Early Modern London
Content: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

TY  - ELEC
ED  - Jenstad, Janelle
T1  - Literary Personography
T2  - The Map of Early Modern London
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/06/20
CY  - Victoria
PB  - University of Victoria
LA  - English
UR  - http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/literary_personography.htm
UR  - http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/xml/standalone/literary_personography.xml
ER  - 

RefWorks

RT Web Page
SR Electronic(1)
A6 Jenstad, Janelle
T1 Literary Personography
T2 The Map of Early Modern London
WP 2018
FD 2018/06/20
RD 2018/06/20
PP Victoria
PB University of Victoria
LA English
OL English
LK http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/literary_personography.htm

TEI citation

<bibl type="mla"> <title level="a">Literary Personography</title>. <title level="m">The Map of Early Modern London</title>, edited by <editor><name ref="#JENS1"><forename>Janelle</forename> <surname>Jenstad</surname></name></editor>, <publisher>U of Victoria</publisher>, <date when="2018-06-20">20 Jun. 2018</date>, <ref target="http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/literary_personography.htm">mapoflondon.uvic.ca/literary_personography.htm</ref>.</bibl>

Personography

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