Euphorbus' plaint and plaits: the unsung valor of a foot soldier in Homer's Iliad

Abstract

The essay addresses Euphorbus’ role in the death and stripping of Patroclus. Is Homer “nodding” when Achilles’ armor is found together with Patroclus’ corpse for which Euphorbus returns to secure his genuine kleos? No. Homer suppresses one piece of information: Euphorbus seized Achilles’ armor and dons it. He seeks Patroclus’ corpse as evidence he did not take Achilles’ armor opportunistically. Hector comes by the armor opportunistically, taking it without slaying Patroclus―nor Achilles―and is thus but the “holder” of Achilles’ armor as Menelaus, puts it, echoed by Glaucus, heckling Hector as he “who holds the kleos of a coward.”