Who killed the Trojan Euphorbus?

Who killed the Trojan Euphorbus? Menelaus killed the Trojan Euphorbus during the struggle over Patroclus's body.

After Euphorbus wounded Patroclus, Hector delivered the fatal attack against Patroclus. Menelaus then guarded the fallen Greek hero's body and confronted Euphorbus, who attempted to strip Patroclus's armor. Menelaus killed him and began removing his armor as a trophy.

Hector soon returned to the scene and prevented Menelaus from taking all of the spoils. This sequence explains why several major warriors are linked to Euphorbus's death in retellings: Apollo and Hector helped bring about Patroclus's death, but Menelaus was the warrior who killed Euphorbus himself.

The duel also reflects Menelaus's role as Helen's husband and a central Greek commander, not merely the aggrieved king whose abduction began the war. In later Greek art, the fight became especially famous through the Euphorbos Plate, an East Greek vessel made around 600 BC that shows Menelaus standing over Euphorbus while Hector approaches.