Robert Langdon
Robert Langdon is a Harvard University professor of history of art and "symbology". Langdon is an expert in Illuminati related conspiracies and finds himself pursuing the Illuminati in Vatican City and Rome in an attempt to save people from the explosion of stolen antimatter from CERN facility in Switzerland. Langdon goes on to be the main character in four more Dan Brown books, perhaps most notably, The Da Vinci Code. Langdon is also claustrophobic, a result of an accident back in his childhood. He is often seen wearing a Mickey Mouse watch and Harris Tweed jacket. He claims that the reason he wears the Mickey Mouse watch is to remind him of always being a child at heart. He is a Harvard University professor of history of art and "symbology". In the story, Langdon is also romantically involved in Vittoria Vetra, daughter of Maximilliam Kohler, a murdered CERN physicist.
Vittoria Vetra
The fellow-scientist and adopted daughter of a murdered CERN physicist, Vittoria helps Langdon in his pursuit of the Illuminati, eventually resulting in her capture. She is also the romantic interest of the protagonist, Langdon. Vittoria is quick-witted and more confident than Langdon. She also is a professional yoga guru and can displace limbs at will.
Maximilliam Kohler
Kohler is the director at CERN laboratories when a physicist named Vetra is found murdered. Kohler appears later in the book, believed to be the Illuminati henchman, Janus. Kohler is a tetraplegic and thus has a disdain for religion in general. He plays a vital role at the end of the story and is hinted as the villain for a little period of time to tease the audience.
Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca
The Camerlengo was a close man to the recently deceased Pope and offers his assistance to Langdon in pursuit of the Illuminati. However, his reliabilities are tested and it is believed that Ventresca may have ulterior motives. He is said to be soft-spoken and is sometimes by overshadowed by other officers.
Hassasin
The man who kidnaps and plans the execution of the cardinals. He is also lusty and has a poor opinion of women. He is a descendant of a race of assassins who drugged themselves. He had contempt for the Vatican, which is exploited by the Illuminati to use him as the muscle behind the whole plan.
