# Anthea — The Story of the Amulet character guide > Anthea in The Story of the Amulet by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Anthea shuddering, Presently Anthea **First appearance:** 0001-the-story-of-the-amulet ## Snapshot The eldest sister and quiet strategist of the four, she keeps her head while the others squabble over wishes, amulets, and whether the future can be visited twice. ## Who they are Anthea is the child who smooths things over — coaxing the Psammead down from its sand-bath, hushing Jane before a wish goes wrong, and gently steering the others when Cyril's cleverness outruns their patience. She is also the one the learned gentleman calls in to hear her 'dreams' of Babylon, a conversation that leaves her flushed with a secret she can't quite explain. Her steadiness matters because the Amulet's quest needs someone willing to wash off the glue and try again. ## Relationships ### [Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/cyril) _family_ Anthea and Cyril are siblings who often collaborate and lead their adventures together, with Anthea being more cautious and Cyril more daring. ### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/jane) _family_ Anthea and Jane are sisters who share a close bond, with Anthea often acting as a maternal figure to the younger Jane. ### [Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/robert) _family_ Anthea and Robert are siblings who work together closely, with Anthea often mediating Robert's impulsive tendencies. ### [The Psammead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/the_psammead) _friendship_ Anthea is the most empathetic toward the Psammead, treating it as a friend and confidant rather than just a magical creature. ### [The Babylonian Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/the_babylonian_queen) _friendship_ Anthea forms a gentle friendship with the Babylonian Queen, showing kindness and curiosity about her life and troubles. ### [Old Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/old_nurse) _family_ Anthea respects the Old Nurse as a maternal figure and often seeks her advice or help in domestic matters. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/mother) _family_ Anthea deeply loves and misses her mother, often thinking of her as a source of moral guidance and comfort. ### [Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/cyril) _family_ Anthea and Cyril are siblings who often collaborate and lead their adventures together, with Anthea being more cautious and Cyril more daring. ### [The Psammead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/the_psammead) _friendship_ Anthea is the most empathetic toward the Psammead, treating it as a friend and confidant rather than just a magical creature. ### [The Psammead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/the_psammead) _friendship_ Anthea is the most empathetic toward the Psammead, treating it as a friend and confidant rather than just a magical creature. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/mother) _family_ Anthea deeply loves and misses her mother, often thinking of her as a source of moral guidance and comfort. ### [Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/cyril) _family_ Anthea and Cyril are siblings who often collaborate and lead their adventures together, with Anthea being more cautious and Cyril more daring. ## In the story ### [The Story of the Amulet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-amulet) One of the children who helps find the Psammead and participates in the purchase of the amulet. ### [I: The Psammead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/i-the-psammead) Anthea is the one who wishes for the money to buy the Psammead, and she carefully carries it home in a paper bag. ### [II: The Half Amulet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/ii-the-half-amulet) Anthea carries the Psammead downstairs and pleads with it to wait for the others. She feels a cold pain thinking of her absent parents and the Lamb, but is comforted by the prospect of adventures. ### [III: The Past](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/iii-the-past) Politely thanks the Amulet's voice and later persuades the others to let her wear the charm for safekeeping. ### [The Fight in the Village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/v-the-fight-in-the-village) Anthea takes charge after the escape, carrying dinner to the learned gentleman and recounting the adventure. ### [VI: The Way to Babylon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/vi-the-way-to-babylon) Supports the idea of using the charm again and speaks the word of power to activate it. She takes charge of the group's interactions in Babylon. ### [VII: “The Deepest Dungeon Below the Castle Moat”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/vii-the-deepest-dungeon-below-the-castle-moat) Discusses scales and singing with the Queen; worries about Jane and the Psammead. ### [VIII: The Queen in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/viii-the-queen-in-london) Anthea takes the sovereign from the Learned Gentleman and later sews a bag for the Psammead with Jane. ### [Atlantis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/ix-atlantis) Suggests taking the learned gentleman to Atlantis; leads the group through the Amulet. ### [X: The Little Black Girl and Julius Caesar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/x-the-little-black-girl-and-julius-caesar) Anthea is kind and practical, taking the lead in comforting Imogen and trying to reason with Caesar. ### [XI: Before Pharaoh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/xi-before-pharaoh) Suggests using gifts to trade for the Amulet; selects the Nécessaire by blindfold; tries to protect the Psammead. ### [XII: The Sorry-Present and the Expelled Little Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/xii-the-sorry-present-and-the-expelled-little-boy) Proposes the sorry-present for Old Nurse; leads the visit to the Learned Gentleman in the future. ### [The Shipwreck on the Tin Islands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/xiii-the-shipwreck-on-the-tin-islands) Holds up the Amulet to escape the shipwreck and later suggests the Amulet heard them talking when they arrive in Tyre. ### [XIV: The Heart's Desire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/chapters/xiv-the-heart-s-desire) Anthea takes charge, negotiating with Rekh-marā and consulting the Amulet. She shows compassion and leadership. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters/anthea - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_amulet_se/characters