Euphorbus (gr. Euphorbos), the son of Panthous, was a Trojan hero during the Trojan War. He wounded Patroclus before Patroclus was killed by Hector. In the fight for Patroclus' body, Euphorbus was killed by Menelaus (Iliad, XVI-XVII). Menelaus later took Euphorbus' shield to the temple of Hera in Argos.
Pythagoras, who maintained the transmigration of souls, declared that, in the time of the Trojan War, his soul had animated the body of Euphorbus; and as a proof of the truth of his assertion, he is said to have gone into the temple where the shield was hanging, and to have recognized and taken it down ( Hor. Carm.i. 28. 11).
Pausanias relates (ii. 17) that in the temple of Hera, near Mycenae, a votive shield was shown, said to be that of Euphorbus, suspended there by Menelaus.
Iliad, XVII :
Menelaus spoke,
but he failed to sway Euphorbus, who replied:
"Now, indeed, divinely raised Menelaus,
you'll surely make up for my brother's death,
Hyperenor, whom you killed. You speak
in triumph about widowing his wife
in her new bridal home, bringing sorrow,
grief beyond enduring, to his parents.
I may provide them with a way of easing
their sad misery, if I bring home your head
and armour and toss them in the hands
of Panthous and queen Phrontis. In any case,
we won't delay our struggle long. Let's start—
fight on, whether for victory or flight."
Saying this, Euphorbus struck Menelaus' round shield.
But the bronze did not break through. The powerful shield
bent back the point. Then Menelaus, Atreus' son,
praying to Father Zeus, charged in clutching his spear,
as Euphorbus was moving back. He struck him
at the bottom of his throat, putting his full weight
behind the blow, with confidence in his strong fists.
The spear point drove straight through Euphorbus' soft neck.
He fell with a thud, his armour clanging round him.
His hair, as lovely as the fine curls on the Graces,
with braids in gold and silver clips, were soaked in blood.
Just as a man tends a flourishing olive shoot,
in some lonely place with a rich source of water,
a lovely vigorous sapling stirred with the motion
of every breeze, so it bursts out in white blossoms—
but then a sudden stormy wind arising rips it
from its trench and lays it out prone on the earth—
that's how Menelaus, son of Atreus, then cut down
Panthous' son, Euphorbus of the fine ash spear.
He then began to strip the armour off.
The philosopher Pythagoras claimed to be a reincarnation of Euphorbus.
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Euphorbus, a servant of Laius
Euphorbus (servant of Laius) with young Oedipus, Cabinet des Medailles 372
Mythology Images
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