With the exception of Josh and Sophie Newman all of the main human characters in the books are real. As for the mythological characters, Michael Scott has gone back to the original myths and legends.
Nicholas Flamel
Nicholas Famel is a real historical figure. He was a bookseller, born in 1330. One day he bought an extraordinary book: The Book of Abraham, which also really existed. Accompanied by his wife, Perenelle, Flamel spent more than twenty years trying to translate the book, his quest taking him all across Europe.
When Nicholas returned to Paris, he was extraordinarily wealthy, but the Flamels continued to live quiet, unassuming lives, giving a lot of their money to charity. It was rumoured that he had discovered how to create a philosopher's stone, which changes ordinary metal into gold.
The records show that Perenelle died first, and Nicholas soon after.
Though their house was searched and their tomb broken into, no one ever found the Flamels' wealth — but they did discover that their tomb was empty.
Perenelle Flamel
Perenelle was ten years older than Nicholas when she married him. The records suggest that she may have been a widow. She was an educated woman and actively assisted in the translation of The Book of Abraham.When Nicholas returned to Paris it was Perenelle who suggested that some of their great wealth could be used to help the poor.
In recognition of their great charitable works, there are two streets – the Rue Flamel and the Rue Perenelle – named in their honour in present-day Paris.
Sophie and Josh Newman
They are twins, born on the 21 December and Sophie is 28 seconds older than her brother. Their parents are archaeologists and paleontologists, currently
working in Utah and the twins are staying with their Aunt Agnes in San Francisco for the summer. Sophie is working in a coffee shop, while her brother works across the road in The Small Book Shop.
They have no idea that the people Josh is working for are Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel.
Dr. John Dee
John Dee was one of the most brilliant men of the Elizabethan Age. All the factual details about his life in The Alchemyst are true: he was an alchemist, a mathematician, a geographer, an astronomer and an astrologer.
He did choose the date for Queen Elizabeth I's coronation and when he was part of her network of spies, he signed his coded messages "oo7." The two Os representing the eyes of the Queen and the symbol that looked like a 7 was Dee's personal mark.
There is evidence to suggest that when Shakespeare created the character of Prospero for The Tempest, he modeled him on Dee.
She is the Warrior, a legendary Celtic female warrior, who ran one of the most famous fighting schools on the Isle of Skye.
She had trained the heroes and warriors for generations, and now Flamel has called upon her to protect the twins. She is 2517 years old, but actually looks no older than 17.
The Morrigan
Dee is assisted by the Dark Elder known as The Morrigan, the Crow Goddess of Irish mythology, the goddess of battle and death. Albino white, she dresses in black leather and wears a cloak of ravens' wings.
She can fly and has control over the birds of the air.
Bastet, the Cat Goddess
Worshipped as a goddess in ancient Egypt, this cat-headed woman is one of the oldest and deadliest of the Dark Elders. With control over all feline animals, she also has the power to transform them into half-human shape.
Hekate, the Goddess with Three Faces
An Elder. With skin as black as night, Hekate ages throughout the day; young woman in the morning, mature woman at noon, an old woman in the evening.
She has the ability to awaken the magical powers that exist within every human.
The Witch of Endor
Another Elder. A very powerful figure, the Witch of Endor is skilled in the arts of necromancy and prophecy. She possesses the Magic of Air.