ELEPHENOR IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Elephenor was a named hero of the Trojan War. Elephenor would fight in Agamemnon’s army, as well as being the King of Euboea.
Elephenor Son of Chalcodon
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Elephenor was the son of Chalcodon, King of the Abantes, generally considered to be born to either Alcyone or Imenarete. Elephenor was thus grandson of Abas, the man who had given his name to the Abantes. Abas and the Abantes had colonised the island of Euboea, the island which Abas, Chalcodon and then Elephenor ruled.
The standing of Elephenor was such, that when Tyndareus announced that Helen was seeking an eligible husband, Elephenor was accepted as a Suitor of Helen. |
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Menelaus was of course chosen to be Helen’s husband, but having taken the Oath of Tyndareus, Elephenor was now honour bound to protect Menelaus.
It is not recorded that Elephenor married or had children.
It is not recorded that Elephenor married or had children.
The Ships of Elephenor
When the Suitors of Helen were called to raise their armies, Elephenor had an issue though, for it was said that Elephenor had accidentally killed his grandfather, Abas. This had resulted in Elephenor being exiled from his kingdom for a year.
Still duty bound to bring forth a force Elephenor gathered his army by speaking from a rock in the Euripus Strait, the waterway between Euboea and the mainland.
Homer, in his Catalogue of Ships, records that Elephenor brought 40 ships of Abantes to Troy. Some also tell of Elephenor being joined by Acamas and Demophon, the sons of Theseus, who had been exiled from Athens by Menestheus.
Still duty bound to bring forth a force Elephenor gathered his army by speaking from a rock in the Euripus Strait, the waterway between Euboea and the mainland.
Homer, in his Catalogue of Ships, records that Elephenor brought 40 ships of Abantes to Troy. Some also tell of Elephenor being joined by Acamas and Demophon, the sons of Theseus, who had been exiled from Athens by Menestheus.
The Death of ElephenorElephenor’s time at Troy was short-lived though, for Elephenor was one of the earliest of the named Achaean attackers killed at Troy.
Elephenor fell shortly after Pandarus had broken the truce between Trojans and Achaeans, Elephenor being killed by Agenor, son of Antenor, with a spear through his side. |
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A less common version tells of Elephenor surviving the war, but on his return home, him and his men were blown off course, landing first on Othronos, and then being forced to Amantia in Illyria.
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Colin Quartermain - Elephenor - 25th August 2025