A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Ἐλεφήνωρ), a son of Chalcodon, and prince of the Abantes in Euboea, whom he led against Troy in thirty or forty ships. He there fell by the hand of Agenor. (Hom Il. 2.540, 4.463; Hygin. Fab. 97; Dict. Cret. 1.17.) Hyginus calls his mother Imenarete, and Tzetzes (ad Lycoph. 1029) Melanippe. He is also mentioned among the suitors of Helen (Apollod. 3.10.8), and was said to have taken with him to Troy the sons of Theseus, who had been entrusted to his care. (Plut. Thes. 35; Paus. 1.17.6.) According to Tzetzes, Elephenor, without being aware of it, killed his grandfather, Abas, in consequence of which he was obliged to quit Euboea. When therefore the expedition against Troy was undertaken, Elephenor did not return to Euboea, but assembled the Abantes on a rock on the Euripus, opposite the island. After the fall of Troy, which, according to some accounts, he survived, he went to the island of Othronos near Sicily, and, driven away thence by a dragon, he went to Amantia in Illyria. (Lycophr. 1029,&c.)

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