Annotations to James Joyce's Ulysses/Hades/085

Annotations
fidus Achates   (Latin) faithful Achates. Achates is the friend and companion of Aeneas in Virgil's epic poem the Aeneid. He is referred to by this phrase on three occasions. In the context of an episode called Hades, the most relevant instance occurs at Aeneid 6:158, shortly before Aeneas descends into the Underworld.

Achates has become a by-word for an intimate companion, though the name is often used ironically.

In English fidus Achates is pronounced [ˈfaɪdəs æˈkeɪtiːz].