Euphorbus

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For the physician of King Juba II of Numidia, after which the Euphorbia plants were named, see Euphorbus (physician).

Menelaus and Hector fighting over the body of Euphorbus, Rhodian plate in the Middle Wild Goat style, ca. 600 BC, British Museum

Euphorbus, the son of Panthous and Phrontis, was a Trojan hero during the Trojan War. He wounded Patroclus before Patroclus was killed by Hector (Iliad, 16.786-857). In the fight for Patroclus' body, Euphorbus was killed by Menelaus (ibid., 17.9-109). He was apparently one of Troy's finest warriors. Menelaus later took Euphorbus' shield to the temple of Hera in Argos. There are some accounts that claim that it was Euphorbus, not Aeneas,Cycnus or Hector, that killed Protesilaus.

The philosopher Pythagoras claimed to be a reincarnation of Euphorbus, according to Heraclides of Pontus. The testament of Heraclides was later confirmed by the biographer Diogenes Laertius (Life of Pythagoras, VIII, 4).