Elephenor is presented in Greek myth as the son of Chalcodon (with variant mothers named in different accounts) and as king of the Abantes of Euboea. He appears among the leaders and suitors associated with the generation that fought at Troy. Variant local traditions record that after the war his men were shipwrecked and founded Apollonia in Epirus, or that Elephenor survived, settled on the island Othronos but was driven out by a serpent and then went to Abantia in Illyria. One account also records that he unwittingly killed his grandfather Abas and was expelled, though sources preserve these as alternative traditions rather than a single canonical origin.
Ancient sources do not preserve a fixed iconographic or detailed physical description of Elephenor. Literary passages depict him as an active battlefield leader — for example, a scene describes him catching a fallen man by the feet and attempting to drag him free of missiles in order to strip off his armor — but no standardized attributes, distinctive dress, or portrait conventions are attested in the provided materials.
Elephenor's capacities in the sources are social and martial rather than supernatural: he functions as a king and troop leader who commands the Euboean contingent to Troy, receives refugees (the sons of Theseus), and performs at least one civic-religious act of purification when he purifies Poemander for the murder of Leucippus. On the battlefield he is depicted engaging in close combat and attempting to take the armor of a fallen opponent; he is ultimately killed in such an encounter.
Weaknesses
- conditionmortality (killed in battle by Agenor while attempting to strip the armor of a fallen foe)
Wards
None recorded.
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Community Record
- [1]Elephenor - Wikipedia. Wikipedia contributors, 'Elephenor', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopediawiki
- [2]Elephenor (Mythology) - UVic Myth Index. UVic Mythology Index entry on Elephenorliterary
- [3]Event: Elephenor tries to steal Ekhepolos’ corpse and armor. UVic Mythology event summaryliterary
- [4]Elephenor in Greek Mythology - Greek Legends and Myths. Greek Legends and Myths: Elephenorother
- [5]Jonathan Gabel — Artwork description referencing Elephenor. Artwork page citing literary scene involving Elephenorother