"Achitophel" is a character from John Dryden's poem "Absalom and Achitophel," published in 1681. He is depicted as a cunning and treacherous advisor to Absalom, the son of King David. Achitophel's role in the poem symbolizes political manipulation and betrayal, as he encourages Absalom to rebel against his father. The poem uses Achitophel to explore themes of power, loyalty, and ambition. His character is often interpreted as a representation of real-life political figures of Dryden's time, reflecting the complexities of loyalty and the consequences of ambition in the context of the English Civil War.