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Ancient

Homer (c. 8th century BC)

Odyssey

11.519–522 [Murray 1919 edition]

but what a warrior was that son of Telephus whom he [Neoptolemus] slew with the sword, the prince Eurypylus! Aye, and many of his comrades, the Ceteians, were slain about him, because of gifts a woman craved. [522] He verily was the comeliest man I saw, next to goodly Memnon.

11.519–522 [Murray revised by Dimock 1998]

but what a warrior was that son of Telephus whom he slew with the sword, the hero Eurypylus!—and many of his comrades, the Ceteians, were slain about him, because of gifts a woman craved.² [522] He in truth was the handsomest man I saw, next to noble Memnon.

2 The reference is to the golden vine given by Priam to Astyoche, wife of Telephus, which gift led her to send her son Eurypylus to the aid of the Trojans. M.

Gantz, p. 640 "womanly gifts"

Fowler 2013, p. 542 "for a woman's gifts"

Archilochus

fr. 304

304 Hesychius, Lexicon

Πυρριχίζειν: they gave the name πυρρίχη to a vigorous, martial dance. Some derive the word from Pyrrhicus the Cretan . . . others from Pyrrhus the son of Achilles. Archilochus¹ says that Pyrrhus danced for joy at the slaying of Eurypylus.

¹ An error for Aristophanes? So Casadio pp. 37–38.

Little Iliad

fr. 6 West (West, pp. 128, 129) = Scholiast on Euripides, Trojan Women 822 [= IlMik fr. 29 PEG? (Gantz, p. 640)]

Here he makes Ganymede the son of Laomedon, following the the Little Iliad , ... He says:

The vine that Zeus gave in compensation for his son; it was of gold, luxuriant with splendid foliage and grape clusters, which Hephaestus fashioned and gave to father Zeus, and he gave it to Laomedon in lieu of Ganymede. ³⁷

³⁷ Zeus had abducted Ganymede for his own purposes; see Hymn to Aphrodite 202-217. the golden vine was inherited by Priam, who sent it to Eurypylus' mother to overcome her objections to her son going to fight at Troy.

fr. 7 West (West, pp. 130, 131) = Pausanias 3.26.9 [= fr. 30 PEG (Gantz, p. 640)

The author of the epic The Little Iliad says that Machaon was killed by Eurypylus, son of Telephus

Fowler 2013, p. 542

= fr. 8 (Evelyn-White)]

Acusilaus (c. 500 BC)

fr. 40 Fowler = FGrH 2F40 = Schol. Odyssey 11.520

Fowler 2001, pp. 25–26

Dowden, p. 58

Eurypylos — the son of Astyoche and Telephos, son of Herakles — took over his father's domain of Mysia and became its leader. Priam learnt about his aquisition of power and sent to him to come and join the Trojan side. Since he replied he could not because of his mother, Priam sent his mother as a gift a golden vine. And she accepted the golden vine and sent her son to war, and he was killed by Neoptolemos son of Achilles. (Scholion on Homer, Odyssey 11.520 (Akousilaos F 40))

Gantz, p. 640

Homer does not explain that last phrase; the scholia credit Akousilaos with the story that Eurypylos was the son of Telephos and Atyoche, and that when Priam sought his help as the inheritor of the kingdom of Mysia his mother at first refused, until Priam sent her a golden vine (Σ Od 11.520 = 2F40).

Fowler, p. 542

§18.43 EURYPYLOS (Akous fr. 40)

Akous. fr. 40 is a historia in the D scholia to the Odyssey, attached to the cryptic remark of Odysseus at 11.521, that many Keteioi⁶³ died at Neoptolemos' hands along with their leader Eurypylos, son of Telephos, 'for a woman's gifts'. The scholion explains that Eurypylos' mother Astyoche was persuaded to let her son go to Troy as an ally to Priam by the bribe of golden jewellery (a 'vine').

Proclus (?)

Summary of the Little Iliad

Odysseus fetches Neoptolemos from Skyros; he gives him his father's armor, and the ghost of Achilles appears to Neoptolemos. Eurypylos the son of Telephos comes to the aid of the Trojans as an ally, and while he is having his ἀριστεία Neoptolemos kills him.

Sophocles

Eurypylus

Lloyd-Jones, pp. 82–95

fr. 210.1–25 Lloyd-Jones

. . . the space between the armies . . . Standing opposite each other without boasts, without abuse, they struck at the orbs of one another’s brazen shields . . . the other (10) . . . without the spear . . . wrestling . . . to the sky . . . was lamented (15) . . . for the lack of instruments . . . brandishes . . . arm . . . escaping . . . the spear . . . the middle . . . the lance (20) . . . far off . . . (guarding) below . . . of Achilles^a . . . healing (25) . . .

^a There is evidently an allusion to the spear of Achilles, which healed Telephus but which has now in the hands of Neoptolemus killed his son.

fr. 210.26–31 Lloyd-Jones

. . . I mean Telephus . . . healed . . . swiftly brought down . . .

ASTYOCHE

Woe, woe! I lament . . . double . . .

fr. 210.75–81 LLoyd-Jones

“Ah, my son, I betrayed you, though I had in you the last and greatest hope of salvation for the Phrygians. Though you were not our guest for long, you will leave the memory of many sorrows for ever to . . .; neither Memnon nor Sarpedon caused so many sorrows, though they were foremost among spearmen . . .”

fr. 211.1–6 LLoyd-Jones

...the lord of Ida, my brother Priam, who all foolishness persuaded me, the wretch, to do an accursed act.

fr. 211.10–13 Lloyd-Jones

Ah, spear that proved bitter for the son of Telephus! O spearpoint, saviour (of his father) . . . you . . . long ago . . . of our house . . .!

Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)

Poetics

1459b 6

and out of the Little Iliad more than eight, e.g. The Award of Arms, Philoctetes, Neoptolemus, Eurypylus, The Begging, The Laconian Women, The Sack of Troy, and Sailing of the Fleet, and Sinon, too, and The Trojan Women.

Hyginus

Fabulae

101

[Grant:] Telephus, son of Hercules and Auge, is said to have been wounded by Achilles in battle with the spear of Chiron. When for days he suffered cruel torture from the wound, he sought oracular advice from Apollo for a remedy. The answer came that no one could heal him except the very spear that wounded him. When Telephus heard this, he went to King Agamemnon, and by Clytemnestra’s advice snatched the infant Orestes from his cradle, threatening to kill him if the Achaeans did not heal him. Then since the Achaeans had been given an oracle too, that Troy could not be taken without the leadership of Telephus, they readily made peace with him, and begged Achilles to heal him. Achilles replied that he didn’t know the art of healing. Then Ulysses said: Apollo does not mean you, but calls the spear the inflictor of the wound.” When they scraped it, he was healed. When they begged him to go with them to attack Troy, they did not obtain their request, because he had as wife Laodice, daughter of Priam. But in return for their kindness in healing him, he led them there, pointing out places and ways. From there he departed to Moesia.

112

Neoptolemus vs. Eurypylus: Eurypylus was killed.

113

Eurypylus killed Nireus and Machaon.

Strabo

13.1.7

For by "Troy" [Homer] means the part of the mainland that was sacked by [Achilles]; and, along with other places, Achilles also sacked the country opposite Lesbos in the neighborhood of Thebe and Lyrnessus and Pedasus, which last belonged to the Leleges, and also the country of Eurypylus the son of Telephus. “But what a man was that son of Telephus who was slain by him with the bronze," that is, the hero Eurypylus, slain by Neoptolemus.

13.1.69

... It is believed, at any rate, that both Teuthras and Telephus reigned as kings over the country round Teuthrania and the Caïcus, though Homer goes only so far as to mention the story thus: “But what a man was the son of Telephus, the hero Eurypylus, whom he slew with the bronze; and round him were slain many comrades, Ceteians, on account of a woman's gifts.³ The poet thus sets before us a puzzle instead of making a clear statement; for we neither know whom we should understand the poet to mean by the "Ceteians" nor what he means by "on account of the gifts of a woman";⁴ but the grammarians too throw in petty myths, more to show their inventiveness than to solve questions.

1 Eur. Fr. 696 (Nauck)

3 Hom. Od. 11.521

4 On the variant myths of Auge and Telephus see Eustathius Hom. Od. 11.521; also Leaf's note and references (p. 340).

13.1.70

However, let us dismiss these; and let us, taking that which is more obvious, say that, according to Homer, Eurypylus clearly reigned in the region of the Caïcus, so that perhaps a part of the Cilicians were subject to him, in which case there were three dynasties among them and not merely two.¹ This statement is supported by the fact that there is to be seen in the territory of Elaea a torrential stream called the Ceteius; this empties into another like it, and this again into another, and they all end in the Caïcus. But the Caïcus does not flow from Ida, as Bacchylides² states; neither is Euripides correct in saying that Marsyas “dwells in widely famed Celaenae, in the farthermost region of Ida;”³ for Celaenae is very far from Ida, and the sources of the Caïcus are also very far, for they are to be seen in a plain. Temnus is a mountain which forms the boundary between this plain and the Plain of Apia, as it is called, which lies in the interior above the Plain of Thebe. From Temnus flows a river called Mysius, which empties into the Caïcus below its sources; and it was from this fact, as some interpret the passage, that Aeschylus said at the opening of the prologue to the Myrmidons, “Oh! thou Caïcus and ye Mysian in-flows.”⁴ Near the sources is a village called Gergitha, to which Attalus transferred the Gergithians of the Troad when he had destroyed their place.

1 Cf. 13. 1. 7, 67.

2 A fragment otherwise unknown (Bacchyl. Fr. 66 (Bergk)).

3 Eur. Fr. 1085 （Nauck）

4 Aesch. Fr. 143 （Nauck）

Diodorus Siculus (f. 60-30 BC)

4.33.12

And since Teuthras had no male children he joined his daughter Argiopê in marriage to Telephus and named him his successor to the kingdom.

Plutarch

On the Control of Anger

10, 458D

And Sophocles^a when he has armed Neoptolemus and Eurypylus, says

Without a vaunt, without reviling, they

Have rushed within the ring of brazen arms.

^a Frag. 210. 8, 9, ed. Pearson, vol. i. pp. 152 ff., where see the careful discussion of the relation of this passage to Ox. Pap., ix. 1175; Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag. 2, Sophocles, Frag. 768.

Apollodorus

3.12.3

and he [Laomadon] begat five sons, Tithonus, Lampus, Clytius, Hicetaon, Podarces⁸ [Priam] and three daughters, Hesione, Cilla, and Astyoche;

8 Compare Hom. Il. 20.237ff., with whom Apollodorus agrees as to Laomedon's five sons. Homer does not mention Laomedon's wife nor his daughters. According to a Scholiast on Hom. Il. iii.250, his wife's name was Zeuxippe or Strymo; for the former name he cites the authority of the poet Alcman, for the latter the authority of the historian Hellanicus. Apollodorus may have followed Hellanicus, though he was acquainted with other traditions. According to Tzetzes （Scholiast on Lycophron 18）, Priam and Tithonus were sons of Laomedon by different mothers; the mother of Priam was Leucippe, the mother of Tithonus was Strymo or Rhoeo, daughter of Scamander. The Scholiast on Hom. Il. xi.1, speaks of Tithonus as a son of Laomedon by Strymo, daughter of Scamander.

E.5.1

Penthesilia, daughter of Otrere and Ares, accidentally killed Hippolyte and was purified by Priam. In battle she slew many, and amongst them Machaon, and was afterwards herself killed by Achilles, who fell in love with the Amazon after her death and slew Thersites for jeering at him.¹

1 These events were narrated in the Aethiopis of Arctinus, as we learn from the summary of that poem drawn up by Proclus. ... Machaon is usually said to have been killed by Eurypylus, and not, as Apollodorus says, by Penthesilia. See Paus. 3.26.9; Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica vi.390ff.; Tzetzes, Posthomerica 520ff.; Hyginus, Fab. 113. From Paus. 3.26.9 we learn that Eurypylus, not Penthesilia, was represented as the slayer in the Little Iliad of Lesches.

E.5.12

Afterwards, Eurypylus, son of Telephus, arrived to fight for the Trojans, bringing a great force of Mysians. He performed doughty deeds, but was slain by Neoptolemus.

Pausanias

3.26.9

= Little Iliad fr. 7 (Fowler 2013, p. 542) = fr. 8 (Evelyn-White)

Here in Gerenia is a tomb of Machaon, son of Asclepius, ... The author of the epic The Little Iliad says that Machaon was killed by Eurypylus, son of Telephus

3.26.10

I myself know that to be the reason of the practice at the temple of Asclepius at Pergamum, where they begin their hymns with Telephus but make no reference to Eurypylus, or care to mention his name in the temple at all, as they know that he was the slayer of Machaon.

9.5.15

On the death of Thersander, when a second expedition was being mustered to fight Alexander at Troy, Peneleos was chosen to command it, because Tisamenus, the son of Thersander, was not yet old enough. When Peneleos was killed by Eurypylus, the son of Telephus, Tisamenus was chosen king, who was the son of Thersander and of Demonassa, the daughter of Amphiaraus.

Dictys Cretensis (4th century AD)

2.5 (Frazer, p. 40)

As for the expedition against Priam, he refused to take part; [Telephus] was prevented by the closest bonds of kinship, for his wife Astyoche, the mother of his son Eurypylus, was one of Priam’s daughters.

Then he quickly commanded that his people be told to stop preparing for war and freely granted our men the right to debark. Tlepolemus and the other envoys were put in the care of Eurypylus; and thus, their mission accomplished, they returned to the ships to tell Agamemnon and the other nobles about the peace and concord with Telephus.

4.14 (Frazer, pp. 95–96)

Meanwhile a messenger arrived to tell Priam that Eurypylus, the son of Telephus, was arriving from Mysia. (The king had enticed him with many beautiful gifts, and had finally won his support by offering Cassandra in marriage. Among the other very beautiful things he had sent to him was a staff which, being made of gold, was talked of far and wide.) Eurypylus, the illustrious warrior, had come with his Mysian and Ceteian forces. The [p. 96] Trojans welcomed him joyously, for in him their every hope was revived.

4.17 (Frazer, pp. 97–98)

The Trojans were very upset, for they saw that, while their own allies were daily defecting, a new contingent, led by an illustrious leader, had come to the aid of the Greeks. Nevertheless, they took up arms, as Eurypylus urged them to do. He, having gained the support of the princes, created a combined force consisting of his own men and those of the Trojans and, leading them out of the gate, deployed them for battle; he himself commanded the center. (Aeneas stayed behind in the city and, for the first time, refused to fight; he was a devoted worshiper of Apollo and detested the crime Alexander had committed against this god.)

When the signal for battle was given, the two sides clashed and fought with all their might; great numbers were slain. Eurypylus, chancing upon Peneleus, drove him back and pinned him with his spear; then he attacked Nireus even more savagely, and cut him down; and finally, having put to flight our men in front, he was fighting in the very midst of our forces. But Neoptolemus, on see- [p. 98] ing this, drove up close and knocked Eurypylus out of his chariot; then he dismounted himself and, sword in hand, quickly finished Eurypylus off. Thereupon our men, as Neoptolemus ordered, carried the body out of the battle and back to the ships. When the barbarians – they had placed all their hopes in Eurypylus – saw this sight, they deserted the battle and fled for the walls, leaderless, without any definite order. And as they fled, great numbers were killed.

4.18 (Frazer, p. 98)

Thus the enemy was put to flight, and the Greeks returned to the ships. Then, the council so willing, we cremated Eurypylus and sent his bones, in an urn, back to his father, for we remembered his father’s kindness and friendship.⁶ [6. See Dictys 2.10 and 12.]

Quintus Smyrnaeus (4th century AD)

Posthomerica

Book six

6.119–165 [Arrival at Troy]

To these, while sorely thus they yearned, the Gods [119]

Brought present help in trouble, even the seed

Of mighty Hercules, Eurypylus.

A great host followed him, in battle skilled,

All that by long Caicus' outflow dwelt,

Full of triumphant trust in their strong spears. [123]

Round them rejoicing thronged the sons of Troy: [124]

As when tame geese within a pen gaze up

On him who casts them corn, and round his feet

Throng hissing uncouth love, and his heart warms

As he looks down on them; so thronged the sons

Of Troy, as on fierce-heart Eurypylus [129]

They gazed; and gladdened was his aweless soul

To see those throngs: from porchways women looked

Wide-eyed with wonder on the godlike man.

Above all men he towered as on he strode,

As looks a lion when amid the hills

He comes on jackals. Paris welcomed him,

As Hector honouring him, who was born

Of Astyoche, King Priam's sister fair

Whom Telephus embraced in his strong arms,

Telephus, whom to aweless Hercules

Auge the bright-haired bare in secret love.

...

Their steeds, yet breathing battle, stood thereby,

And cribs were heaped with horses' provender. [165]

6.180–199 [Feasts, spends the night, girds for battle]

6.196–293 [Description of Shield]

And now Eurypylus clad his mighty limbs [196]

In armour that like levin-flashes gleamed;

upon his shield by cunning hands wrought

All the great labours of strong Hercules. [199]

...

Of bold Alcides many a deed beside

Shone on the broad shield of Eurypylus. [293]

6.294–305 [Adressed by Paris]

He seemed the War-god, as from rank to rank [294]

He sped; rejoiced the Trojans following him,

Seeing his arms, and him clothed with the might

Of Gods; Paris hailed him to the fray:

"Glad am I for thy coming, for mine heart [298]

Trusts that the Argives all shall wretchedly

Be with their ships destroyed; for such a man

Mid Greeks or Trojans never have I seen.

Now by the strength and fury of Hercules—

To whom in stature, might, and goodlihead

Most like thou art—I pray thee, have in mind

Him, and resolve to match his deeds with thine. [305]

6.368–389 [First day's battle begins]

Like a black hurricane rushed Eurypylus [368]

...

Nireus, a man in beauty like the Gods, [372]

His spear long-shafted stabbed beneath the ribs

...

Unknowing' Beauty is no match for strength!" [389]

6.391–428

... but now against him came

Machaon wroth for Nireus, ... [391]

...

So fierce Eurypylos on Machaon rushed

The long lance ...

...

"Eurypylus, thine own weird is to live

Not long: Fate is at point to meet thee here

On Troy's plain, and to still thine impious tongue." [428]

6.498–501

But when full many had filled the measure up [498]

Of fate, mid tumult, blood and agony,

Then to their ships did many Argives flee

Pressed by Eurypylus hard, an avalanche

Of havoc. ... [501]

6.513–526 [Attacks Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Ajax, who is wounded and removed from the battle.]

Now when Eurypylus the battle-stay [513]

Marked how the ranks of Troy gave back from fight,

He turned him from the host that he had chased

Even to the ships, and rushed with eagle-swoop

On Atreus' strong sons and Oileus' seed

Stout-hearted, who was passing fleet of foot

And in fight peerless. Swiftly he charged on theses

Grasping his spear long-shaffed: at his side

Charged Paris, charged Aeneus stout of heart, [520]

Who hurled a stone exceeding huge, that crashed [521]

On Aias' helmet: dashed to dust he was,

...

...bare him thence,

Scare drawing breath, to the Achaean ships. [526]

6.527–529 [Agamemnon and Menelaus are surrounded]

And now the Atreid kings, the war-renowned, [527]

Were left alone, and murder-breathing foes

Encompassed them, and hurled from every side

Whate'er their hands might find ...

...

What luckless thrll soever draweth near. [537]

6.539–594. [Teucer, Idomeneus, Thoas, Meriones, and Thrasymedes rush to the defense of Agamemnon and Menelaus, and Eurypylus is briefly de-speared]

...Yet had their might

Availed not for defence, for all their will,

Had Teucer and ... [539]

...

A moment's breathing space from stress of war. [594]

6.595–598

But swiftly drew Eurypylus' henchmen near [595]

Bearing the stubborn-shafted lance, wherewith

He brake the strength of many. In stormy might

Then charged he on the foe: whomso he met

He slew, and spread wide havoc through their ranks. [598]

6.599–614

Now neither Atreus' sons might steadfast stand, [599]

Nor any valiant Danaan beside,

...

Lo, how like sacred sheep back to their ships they fee!

...

And these in utter panic turned and fled

...

The slaughter grim and great of that wild fray.

6.615–621

Eurypylus hath slain Bucolion,

Nesus, and Chromion and Antiphus;

...

...Then he smote

A host unnumbered of the common throng.

My strength should not suffice to sing their fate,

How fain soever, though within my breast

Were iron lungs.

6.644–645

Now had the Trojans burnt with fire the ships

Had not night, trailing heavy-folded mist,

Uprisen. ... [645]

Book seven

7.98–114

Eurypylus there, with mad-raging spear and hands

Resistless, smote down hosts of foes: the earth

Was clogged with dead men on either side.

...

Peneleos the mighty hearted came [104]

Against him in the pitiless fray: he fell

Before Eurypylus' spear: yea many more

Fell round him. Ceased not those destroying hands,

...

Heaps upon heaps, here, there in throngs they fell [114]

7.115–144

...

Behind the rampart of the ships they fled [128]

In huddled rout: they had no heart to stand

Before Eurypylus, ... [129]

...

... There behind their wall

They cowered, as goats to leeward of a hill

Shrink from the wild cold rushing of the wind

...

...so, by their towers

Screened, did the trembling Danaans abide

Telephus' mighty son. [141] Yea, he had burnt [142]

The ships, and all that host had he destroyed,

Had not Athena at the last inspired

The Argives men with courage. [144]

7.115–151

...

So fought they: nightlong, daylong fought they on, [148]

...

Fought now before the ships, and now again

Round the steep wall, ... [151]

Yet even so for two days did they cease [152]

From murderous fight; for to Eurypylus came [153]

A Danaan embassage, saying, "From the war

Forebear we, while we give unto the flames

the battle slain." SO hearkened he to them:

From ruin-wreacking strife forebear the hosts;

And so their dead they buried, who in dust

Had fallen. ... [158]

7.169–218

Meanwhile the black ship on to Scyros ran; [169]

...

That meet is to attend a wealthy king" [218]

7.412–420

Nigh Ilium now the ship by wind and oar [412]

Was brought: they saw the long strand fringed with keels

Of Argives, who endured sore travail of war

Even then about the wall, which themselves

Had reared to screen the ships and men in stress

Of battle. Even now Eurypylus' hands [417]

To earth were like to dash it and destroy;

But the quick eyes of Tydeus' strong son marked

How rained the darts and stones on that long wall. [420]

7.435–478

To Odysseus' tent in haste

They sped, ...

...

But in his father's arms Achilles' son

Clad him—and lo, he seemed Achilles' self!

...

...Charged at his side the rest

Breathing the battle-spirit ... [478]

7.556–630

That desperate battle-travail Pallas saw, [556]

...

And gave Achaeans glory. Achilles' son [563]

Beyond the rest was filled with valour and strength [564]

...

From that hard rampart-battle. Verily all [626]

The Argives had beside their ships been slain,

Had not Achilles' strong son on that day

Withstood the host of foes and their great chief

Eurypylus. ... [630]

Book eight

8.108

... But more than all

Eurypylus hurled doom on many a foe. [109]

First slew he battle-bider Eurytus,

Menoetius of the glancing taslet next,

Elephenor's godlike comrads. Fell with these

Harpalus, wise Odysseus' warrior-friend;

8.128–133

...Elsewhither sped

Eurypylus; and aye as he rushed on

Fell 'neath his spear a multitude untold.

As tall trees, smitten by the strength of steel

In mountain-forest, fill the dark ravines,

Heaped on the earth confusedly, so fell

The Achaeans 'neath Eurypylus' flying spears— [133]

8.134–153

Til heart-uplifted met him face to face [134]

Achilles' son. The long spears in their hands

They twain swung up, each hot to smite his foe.

But first Eurypylos cried the challenge-cry; [137]

"Who art thou? Whence hast come to brave me here? [138]

To Hades merciless Fate is bearing thee;

But whoso eager for the fray, have come

Hither, on all have I hurled anguished death. [142]

By Xanthus' streams have dogs devoured their flesh [143]

And gnawed their bones. Answer me, who art thou?

Whose be the steeds that bear thee exultant on?" [145]

Answered Achilles' battle-eager son:

"Wherefore, when I am hurrying to the fray, [147]

Dost thou, a foe, put question thus to me,

As might a friend, touching my lineage,

Which many know? Achilles' son am I, [150]

Son of the man whose long spear smote thy sire,

And made him flee—yea, and ruthless fates

Of death had seized him, but my father's self

Healed him upon the brink of woeful death. [153]

8.175–176

Like terrible lions each on other rushed

8.186–192

Hard by them stood Enyo, spurred them on [186]

... Strife incarnate watched [191]

And gloated o'er them. [192]

8.192–216

... Ran sweat in streams [192]

For both were of the seed of Blessed Ones.

From heaven, with hearts at variance, Gods looked down;

For some gave glory to Achilles' son,

Some to Eurypylus the godlike. ... [196]

...

...At last the Pelian lance, [200]

Sped onward by a mighty thrust, hath passed

Clear through Eurypylus' throat. ...

...

Over the corpse, and all the flash of life

Faded away. ... [209]

...

"Eurypylus, thou saidist thou wouldst slay all

...

My father's massy spear hath now subdued

The under me, that spear no man shall 'scape,

Though he be brass all through, who faceth me." [216]

Book nine

9.41–45

The Trojans, for Eurypylus sorrowing sore:

For even as Priam's sons they honoured him.

Therefore apart from all the other slain,

Before the Gate Dardanian—where the streams

Of eddying Xanthus down from Ida flow

Fed by the rains of heaven—they buried him.

Servius

On Virgil's Eclogues

6.72.

Eurypylus namque filius Telephi, Herculis et Auges filii, ex Astyoche, Laomedontis [i.e. Priam] filia

Scholia on Homer's Odyssey

11.520

Dowden, p. 58

Eurypylos — the son of Astyoche and Telephos, son of Herakles — took over his father's domain of Mysia and became its leader. Priam learnt about his aquisition of power and sent to him to come and join the Trojan side. Since he replied he could not because of his mother, Priam sent his mother as a gift a golden vine. And she accepted the golden vine and sent her son to war, and he was killed by Neoptolemos son of Achilles. (Scholion on Homer, Odyssey 11.520 (Akousilaos F 40))

Gantz, p. 640

Homer does not explain that last phrase; the scholia credit Akousilaos with the story that Eurypylos was the son of Telephos and Atyoche, and that when Priam sought his help as the inheritor of the kingdom of Mysia his mother at first refused, until Priam sent her a golden vine (Σ Od 11.520 = 2F40).

Fowler, p. 542

§18.43 EURYPYLOS (Akous fr. 40)

Akous. fr. 40 is a historia in the D scholia to the Odyssey, attached to the cryptic remark of Odysseus at 11.521, that many Keteioi⁶³ died at Neoptolemos' hands along with their leader Eurypylos, son of Telephos, 'for a woman's gifts'. The scholion explains that Eurypylos' mother Astyoche was persuaded to let her son go to Troy as an ally to Priam by the bribe of golden jewellery (a 'vine').

11.521

Gantz, p. 640

One line later, other Odyssey scholia repeat this tale, adding that the vine was a gift from Zeus to Tros in recompense for Ganymedes, that Priam had inherited it, and that Astyoche was his sister (Σ Od 11.521). They also, however, cite an alternate explanation for Homer's words, namely that Priam had promised Eurypylos one of his daughters in marriage, much as Kassandra was betrothed to the foreigner Othryoneus.

Fowler, p. 542

A second scholion on the Homeric passage tells us more about the necklace, that it was given by Zeus to Laomedon in compensation for Ganymede;

Scholiast on Juvenal 6.655

Fowler, pp. 542–543
Zagdoun

Modern

Dignas

p. 120

In his commentary on Vergil's sixth eclogue, for example, Servius offers an explanation for the naming of the city [Pergamon] and reveals an eponymous founder: Telephos' grandson Grynos and his friend Pergamos, son of Andromache and Neoptolemos, overcame the king of Teuthrnia and became the founders of two cities, which were named Pergamon and Gryneion respectively.⁵

⁵ Servius on Vergil, Eclogues 6. 72.

Fowler 2001, pp. 25–26

Dowden

p. 58

A simpler case of filing out the story (it may even be what Homer was thinking of) results from Akousilaos' reading of a problematic line of Homer's Odyssey (11.520-1) where Homer refers to Achilles' son Neoptolemos having killed one Eurypylos, son of Telephos, and lot's of his comrades 'becaus of a woman's gifts'. Here the scholion tells us,

Eurypylos — the son of Astyoche and Telephos, son of Herakles — took over his father's domain of Mysia and became its leader. Priam learnt about his aquisition of power and sent to him to come and join the Trojan side. Since he replied he could not because of his mother, Priam sent his mother as a gift a golden vine. And she accepted the golden vine and sent her son to war, and he was killed by Neoptolemos son of Achilles. (Scholion on Homer, Odyssey 11.520 (Akousilaos F 40))

Akousilaos probably said more than this. Telephus is wounded by Achilles ... Here we enter a mirror scene where Telephos' son is killed by Achilles' son, perhaps because Telephos had sworn that his family would not enter the war. His mother is in fact, Priam's sister. And the golden vine, it transpires, is actually the one given by Zeus to Ganymede (as we can see in the cyclic epic, the Little Iliad, F 6 West).

Fowler

p. 542

§18.43 EURYPYLOS (Akous fr. 40)

Akous. fr. 40 is a historia in the D scholia to the Odyssey, attached to the cryptic remark of Odysseus at 11.521, that many Keteioi⁶³ died at Neoptolemos' hands along with their leader Eurypylos, son of Telephos, 'for a woman's gifts'. The scholion explains that Eurypylos' mother Astyoche was persuaded to let her son go to Troy as an ally to Priam by the bribe of golden jewellery (a 'vine'). We know from Proklos' summary (Argum. 3; cf. Apollod. Epit. 5.12) and another fragment of the Little Illiad (fr. 7) that Eurypylos figured in that poem as a great champion, a worthy opponent of Neoptolemos; their duel will have been one of its central set-pieces. The Odyssey passage and a depiction of Eurypylos slain by Neoptolemos on a late sixth-century hydria (LIMC Eurypylos no. 1) indictate the same conclusion. A second scholion on the Homeric passage tells us more about the necklace, that it was given by Zeus to Laomedon in compensation for Ganymede; this is confirmed by fr. 6 of the Little Iliad. ... A chance notice in the scholia to Juevenal (6.655) suggests that Astyoche's reason for reluctance was not only fear for her son's life, but that Telephos had given a promise to Achilleus [cont.]

p. 543

in return for his being healed, that neither he nor his descendants would take up arms against him. Like Eriphyle's, Adstyoche's resistence is broken by the bribe, with inevitable results. In Sophokles' Eurypylos (fr. 210.31) Astyoche bitterly laments the irony that the spear of Achilleus, which healed her husband, killed her son. Like Penelope, she has taken her husband's place on the throne; her ability to command her son implies that he is only just coming of age.

Gantz

p. 579

Later sources of information include ... and the A scholia to Iliad 1.59, ... after promising to show the Achaians the way to Try and not to help the Trojans himself (so the scholia) he was healed by Achilleus.

p. 640

In any case Neoptolemos requires some sort of formidable opponent if he is to display his military skills; thus Eurypylos, son of Telephos, arrives to assist the Trojans, performs various heroic deeds (including in the poem, according to Pausanius, the killing of Machaon: 3.26.9 = fr 30 PEG⁷¹, and is slain by the son of Achilleus. His defeat is recounted by Odysseus to the shade of Achilleus in the Nekuia, speaking of Eurypylos' magnificence and beauty (second only to Memnon), and of how many Keteians perished with him because of "womanly gifts" (Od 11.519-21). Homer does not explain that last phrase; the scholia credit Akousilaos with the story that Eurypylos was the son of Telephos and Atyoche, and that when Priam sought his help as the inheritor of the kingdom of Mysia his mother at first refused, until Priam sent her a golden vine (Σ Od 11.520 = 2F40). One line later, other Odyssey scholia repeat this tale, adding that the vine was a gift from Zeus to Tros in recompense for Ganymedes, that Priam had inherited it, and that Astyoche was his sister (Σ Od 11.521). They also, however, cite an alternate explanation for Homer's words, namely that Priam had promised Eurypylos one of his daughters in marriage, much as Kassandra was betrothed to the foreigner Othryoneus.⁷² Neither of these persuasive devices is mentioned by Proklos in his summary of the Little Iliad, but we saw earlier in this chapter that a fragment of that poem (or similar epic: IlMik fr. 29 PEG) does speak of a [cont.]

p. 641

golden vine (the work of Hepahaistos) given by Zeus to Laomedon in compensation for Ganymedes, so that Priam's gift to Eurypylos' mother was very likely the version used by Lesches.

Sophocles seems also to have treated the story of the combat, probably in a play entitled Eurypylos that would have brought the hero to Troy and included his death and the lamentation of his mother.⁷³ Elements of this drama apparently included frequent references to Telephos and his healing by the spear of Achilles, pointed emphasis on the irony of the same spear being used by Achilleus' son to slay Telephos' son, and reproaches by Astyoche against Priam, who persuaded her (fr. 211 R). Unfortunately, this last section is quire mutilated in the papyrus source, and does not quite allow us to say for certain whether her acceptance of gold in return for her son was included here.

In art we have only one early illustration, a Black-Figure hydria of about 510 B.C. on which Eurypylos already lies dead, the spear protruding from his chest, while Neoptolemos pursues his chariot (slaying the charoteer) and Apollo with drawn bow closes in from the right [?] (Basel BS 498).

⁷³ Aristotle (or an interpolation) mentions such a play, but without naming the author (Poet 23.1459b6). An Oxyrhynchus papyrus (POxy 1175 = frr 206a-222a R) apparently drawn from from it now suggests Sophoklean authorship, given similarities to the pypyrus of the same poet's Ichneutai.

Grimal

s.v. Eurypylus (Εὐρύπυλος) p. 159

4. The son of Telephus who fought alongside the Trojans. On being cured of his wound, Telephus had promised that neither he nor his descendants would ever fight against the Greeks; but Astyoche, Eurypylus' mother and Priam's sister, allowed herself to be persuaded to send her son to Troy, where he was killed by Neoptolemus. She had been bribed by a present — the golden vine which Zeus had once offered to Ganymede. Eurypylus was the father of GRYNUS.

Hard

p. 472

Lloyd-Jones

pp. 82–95 [Google Books]

p. 82

No ancient author says that Sophocles wrote a play with this name, but Tyrwhitt in 1794 remarked that the duel between Eurypylus and Neoptolemus, mentioned by Plutarch, On the Restraint of Anger 10, 458D as having been described by Sophocles, indicated that Sophocles was the author of the play Eurypylus mentioned by Aristotle. The papyrus reveals a coincidence with words of [cont.]

p. 83

Telephus, the son of Heracles by the Tegean princess Auge, was king of Mysia in Asia Minor (see on the Aleadae), and married Priam’s sister Astyoche. The Greeks on their way to Troy at first landed by mistake in Mysia, and were opposed by Telephus, at first successfully. But he was wounded by Achilles, and after the Greeks had departed he was told by a prophet that his wound could be cured only by the spear that had inflicted it. Accordingly he travelled to Aulis, where the Greek [cont.]

p. 84

army was encamped, and persuaded Achilles to use his spear to heal the wound, promising in return that he would guide the Greeks to Troy. At the same he gave an undertaking that neither he nor any of his family would assist the Trojans.

After the deaths of Hector and Achilles, the Trojans were in dire straits. Telephus was now dead, but his son Eurypylus was a hero of the kind they needed. At first he refused to help them, owing to the undertaking given by his father. But Priam induced his sister, Eurypylus’ mother, to persuade her son to help him, bribing her with the gift of the golden vine which Zeus had given to an earlier king of Troy in return for his beautiful son Ganymedes, carried off to become Zeus’ cupbearer.

This story supplied the background to the action of the play, of which we know nothing except what the papyrus tells us. According to the stories told in the lost epics of the [cont.]

p. 85

Trojan cycle and in the Posthomerica, the extant epic of the Roman Imperial period by Quintus of Smyrna, Eurypylus performed great deeds, killing among many others Nireus, the handsomest of the Greeks, and Machaon, the famous doctor. But in the end he was killed in a duel with the son of Achilles, Neoptolemus.

The only fragment known from quotation is that quoted by Plutarch; but we have 121 fragments of the play, all from the papyrus. Only about ten of these are of any substance. By far the largest is fr. 210, which shows that the report of the Messenger who came to Astyoche, apparently in Troy, to describe her son’s death, was divided into two halves by a kommos, or scene of lamentation, performed by Astyoche and the Chorus, which evidently consisted of women.

The Messenger describes how the body of Eurypylus lay close to the body of another warrior, with whom he had fought a common fight (fr. 210, 50). The evidence of vase paintings (see LIMC 4, 2, p. 55) seems to indicate that this was Helicaon, the son of the Trojan Antenor who survived the siege and founded a colony in the West; see Hugh Lloyd-Jones in ZPE 92 (1992), 55–8.

Sutton

p. 47 [in physical folder "Telephus", not to be cited], quoting "a scholiast' on Od 11.519-22:

Eurypylus was the son of Astyoche and Telephus, the son of Heracles. He inherited his father's kingdom of Mysia. And Priam, hearing of his power, sent asking him to appear [at the Trojan War] as an ally. But he refused, saying that his mother would not allow it. So Priam sent his mother a golden vine as a gift. She accepted the vine and sent her son with an army, and he was killed by Neoptolemus son of Achilles.

Smith

s.v. Astyoche 3

3. A daughter of Laomedon by Strymo, Placia, or Leucippe. (Apollod. 3.12.3.) According to other traditions in Eustathius (Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1697) and Dictys (2.2), she was a daughter of Priam, and married Telephus, by whom she became the mother of Eurypylus. Three other mythical personages of this name occur in Apollod. 3.12.2, 3.5.6; Hyg. Fab. 117.

s.v. Eurypylus 3

A son of Telephus and Astyoche, was king of Moesia or Cilicia. Eurypylus was induced by the presents which Priam sent to his mother or wife, to assist the Trojans against the Greeks. Eurypylus killed Machaon, but was himself slain by Neoptolemus. (Hyg. Fab. 112; Strab. xiii. p.584; Paus. 3.26. 7; Dict. Cret. 4.14; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1697.)

Stewart

p. 110

ten years later, just before the sack of Troy, his son Eurypylos("Braodgate") had come to help the Trojans but Neoptolemos killed him.

Tripp

s.v. Eurypylus (2) p. 242

Son of Telephus, king of Pergamon, and Astyoche or Laodice. Eurpylos' mother tried to dissuade him from risking his life fighting the Greeks at Troy until Priam's gift of a golden vine induced her to withdraw her objections. Eurypylus led a Mysian force to Troy, He distinguished himself there by killing Machaon and Peneleüs, but was himself killed by Neoptolemus.

Zagdoun

LIMC s.v. Eurypylos I

p. 109

Fils de Télèphe de Pergame (⇾ Telephos) et d' Astyoché, une des soeurs de Priam (⇾ Priamos). Il est connu comme un héros mysien, allié des Troyens, illustre par ses combats contre les Grecs.

SOURCES LITTÉRAIRES: Dans Hom. Od. 11.519-522, E. est le chef des Kétéens, tué par Néoptolème (Bérard, V., Homère. Iliade. Odyssée [1955] 708 n. 3). L'intervention tardive d'E. dans la bataille a été, diversement expliquée pars les anciens (voir notamment Schol. Hom. Od. 11.521 et Schol. Iuv. 6.655). Les exploits d'E. nous ont été contés; notamment, par Hyg. fab. 112-113 et par Q.Smyrn. 6.120-200; 294-648; 8.108-216; 9.41-45: meurtier de ⇾ Nireus et de ⇾ Machaon, fils d' ⇾ Asklepios, E. succomba à la lançe de ⇾ Neoptolemos et fut enterré à Troie; devant la Porte Dardanienne (Q.Smyrn. 9,43-44; Apollod. epitome 5.12; Philostr. iun. im. 10).

Aux auteurs déjà mentionnés, il faut ajouter: Ilias mikra, fgr. 6-7 Allen; Archil., West IEG fgr. 304; Akus. FGrH 2 F 40; Soph. Eurypylos, TrGF IV F 206-222b, tragédie mentionnée par Aristot. poet. 1459b6; Serv. ecl. 6.72; Eust. ad. Hom. Od. 11.522 p. 1698

[Google translate]

Son of Telephus of Pergamon (⇾ Telephos) and Astyohe, one of the sisters of Priam (⇾ Priamos). He is known as a Mysian hero, allied with the Trojans, illustrated by his battles against the Greeks.

LITERARY SOURCES: In Hom. Od. 11.519-522, E. is the chief of the Ceteians, killed by Neoptolemus (Berard, V., Homer. Iliad. Odyssey [1955] 708, N. 3). The late intervention of E. in the battle was, variously explained by the ancients (see in particular Schol. Hom. Od. 11.521 and Schol. Iuv. 6.655) The exploits of E., we are told, in particular, by Hyg. Fab. 112-113 and Q.Smyrn. 6.120-200; 294-648; 8.108-216; 9.41-45: killer of ⇾ Nireus and ⇾ Machaon, son of ⇾ Asklepios, E. succumbed to the spear of ⇾ Neoptolemos and was buried in Troy; in front of the Dardanian Gate (Q.Smyrn. 9.43-44; Apollod., Epitome 5.12; Philostr. iun. im. 10).

To the authors already mentioned, we must add: Ilias mikra, fgr. 6-7 Allen; Archil., West IEG fgr. 304; Akus. FGrH 2 F 40; Soph. Eurypylos, TrGF IV F 206-222b, tragedy mentioned by Arist. Poet. 1459b6; Serv. ecl. 6.72; Eust. ad. Hom. Od. 11.522 p. 1698.

p. 110

DOCUMENTS D'ATTRIBUTION DOUTEUSE OU ERONÉE

WORKS OF DOUBTFUL OR ERRONEUS ATTRIBUTION

3.* (= Apollon 884a ... = Athena 371 ) Hydrie attique ... Wurtzbourg, Wagner-Mus 309. De Vulci. ... Scène proche de 1, mais condensée: il n'y a qu'un seul cadavre. Faute d'inscription qui permettrait de l'identifier, nous pouvons supposer, comme Schefold, qu'il s'agit d'E. Beazley suggère Helikaon, mais E. est une victime de Néoptolème plus célèbre.

3.* (= Apollon 884a ... = Athena 371 ) Attic hydria ... Wurtzbourg, Wagner-Mus 309. De Vulci. ... Scene close to 1, but condensed: there is only one corpse. In the absence of an inscription which would make it possible to identify it, we can suppose, like Schefold, that it is about E. Beazley suggests Helikaon, but E. is a more famous Neoptolemus victim.

COMMENTAIRE

Héros troyen, E. arrive à la fin de la guerre de Troie qu'il prolonge par ses combats, avant de disparaitre rapidement. Contrairement à celle de Télèphe, son iconographie est pauvre et ne se rattache qu'au thème du combat final contre Néoptolème (1-3.6). La plupart des documents sont d'interprétation incertaine (3-6), seuls 1 et 2 étant assurés par des inscriptions.

Trojan hero, E. arrives at the end of the Trojan war that he prolongs by his combats, before disappearing quickly. Unlike Telephos, his iconography is poor and is related only to the theme of the final fight against Neoptolemus (1-3.6). Most of the documents are of uncertain interpretation (3-6), only 1 and 2 being assured by inscriptions.

Vases

Basel BS 498

Gantz, p. 641

In art we have only one early illustration, a Black-Figure hydria of about 510 B.C. on which Eurypylos already lies dead, the spear protruding from his chest, while Neoptolemos pursues his chariot (slaying the charoteer) and Apollo with drawn bow closes in from the right [should be "facing right"?] (Basel BS 498).

Schefold, p. 282

Beazley Archive 340473

Fabric: ATHENIAN

Technique: BLACK-FIGURE

Shape Name: HYDRIA

Date: -550 to -500

Inscriptions: Named: APOLLON, NEOPPTOLEMOS, EURYPYLOS

Named: HERAKLEES, ARES, ATHENA, HERMES

Attributed To: ANTIMENES P by BEAZLEY

Current Collection: Basel, Antikenmuseum und Sammlung Ludwig: BS498

CAVI Subject: Shoulder: Aristeia of Neoptolemos (Little Iliad): Apollo striding to right, threatening with his bow to protect Helicaon; Helicaon (son of Antenor and son-in-law of Priam) lying dead to left (killed by Neoptolemos); chariot to left, with charioteer pierced by Neoptolemos' spear; Eurypylos (son of Telephos of Pergamum and nepherw of Priam) dead on ground to left (also killed by N.); chariot of Athena to left; Athena running to left (to support Neoptolemos).

LIMC 11585 (Eurypylos I 1)

Description

On the shoulder: Neoptolemos who has already murdered Eurypylos (I) and Helikaon. Apollon arriving from the left and Athena from the right.

Attic Vase Inscriptions (AVI) 2139

AVI 2007: Basel, Antikenmuseum und Sammlung Ludwig BS 498. BF hydria. Antimenes Painter. 530-520.

Commentary: The shoulder scene is from the Little Iliad. It was not previously known that Neoptolemos slew Helikaon (son of Antenor, son-in-law of Priam) and that Apollo terminated his aristeia. Würzburg 309 (ABV 268/28) part a replica and shows the same scene. - Decoration front and back is unusual and similar to Villa Giulia 3556. The writing seems compatible with the Antimenes Painter elsewhere.

Wurzburg L309

Zagdoun, p. 110

3.* (= Apollon 884a ... = Athena 371 ) Attic hydria ... Wurtzbourg, Wagner-Mus 309. De Vulci. ... Scene close to 1, but condensed: there is only one corpse. In the absence of an inscription which would make it possible to identify it, we can suppose, like Schefold, that it is about E. Beazley suggests Helikaon, but E. is a more famous Neoptolemus victim.

Beazley Archive 320038

Fabric: ATHENIAN

Technique: BLACK-FIGURE

Shape Name: HYDRIA

Provenance: ITALY, ETRURIA, VULCI

Date: -550 to -500

Attributed To: ANTIMENES P by BEAZLEY

Decoration:

SH: UNCERTAIN, FIGHT, APOLLO WITH BOW, ATHENA, CHARIOTS, WARRIORS, ONE WITH BOEOTIAN SHIELD, ONE FALLING, DEVICES, THUNDERBOLT, SNAKE

Current Collection: Wurzburg, Universitat, Martin von Wagner Mus.: L309

LIMC 25314 (Eurypylos I 3)

Type: hydria

Origin: Attica

Discovery: Vulci

Description

Zeus with long hair, wreath, beard, chiton, coat and sceptre seated on a throne; in front of him Athena greeting her father; scene framed by two Eileithyies, Hermes and Poseidon. Neoptolemos who has killed Eurypylos (I).

Mother

Unspecified

Homer Ody 11.519-520

Ap E.5.12

Astyoche

Σ Ody 11.520 = 2F40 (Dowden, p. 58)

Priam's sister

Σ Ody 11.521 (Gantz, p. 640)

Q.S 6.147

Serv on Virg. Ecl. 6.72

cf. Ap 3.12.3, which also has Astyoche as Priam's sister, but nowhere says who E' mother was

Priam's daughter

Dictys Cretensis 2.5

Priam's daughter Laodice = Telephus' wife (and mother of E?)

Hyg. Fab 101

[1] Zagdoun, p. 110; Schefold, p. 15; Beazley Archive 320038; LIMC 25314 (Eurypylos I 3).

[1]