About the Trojan Prince Deiphobus

Brother of Hector

Death of Achilles
Peter Paul Rubens/Wikipedia/Public Domain

Deipohbus was a prince of Troy and he became the leader of the Trojan army following the death of his brother Hector. He the son of Priam and Hecuba in ancient Greek mythology. He was the brother of Hector and Paris. Deipohbus is viewed as a Trojan hero, and one of the most important figures from the Trojan War. Along with his brother Paris, he is credited with slewing Achilles. After Paris' death, he became Helen's husband and was betrayed by her to Menelaus.

Aeneas talks to him in the Underworld in Book VI of the "Aeneid."

According to the "Iliad," during the Trojan War, Deiphobus led a group of soldiers in siege and successfully wounded Meriones, an Achaean hero.

Hector’s Death

During the Trojan War, as Hector was fleeing from Achilles, Athena took the form of Hector’s brother, Deiphobus, and told him to take a stand and fight against Achilles. Hector thought he was getting genuine advice from his brother and tried to spear Achilles. However, when his spear missed, he realized that he had been tricked, and was then in turn killed by Achilles. It was after Hector’s death that Deiphobus became the leader of the Trojan army.

Deiphobus and his brother Paris are credited with eventually killing Achilles, and in turn avenging the death of Hector.

As Hector was fleeing Achilles, Athena took the shape of Deiphobus and goaded Hector to make a stand and fight. Hector, thinking it was his brother, listened and threw his spear at Achilles. When the spear missed, Hector turned around to ask his brother for another spear, but "Deiphobus" had vanished. It was then Hector knew the gods had deceived and forsaken him, and he met his fate at the hand of Achilles.

Marriage to Helen of Troy

After the death of Paris, Deiphobus became married to Helen of Troy. Some accounts say that the marriage was by force​ and that Helen of Troy never truly loved Deiphobus. This situation is described by the Encyclopedia Britannica:

“Helen chose Menelaus, Agamemnon’s younger brother. During an absence of Menelaus, however, Helen fled to Troy with Paris, son of the Trojan king Priam; when Paris was slain, she married his brother Deiphobus, whom she betrayed to Menelaus when Troy was subsequently captured. Menelaus and she then returned to Sparta, where they lived happily until their deaths.”

Death

Deiphobus was killed during the sack of Troy, by either Odysseus of Menelaus. His body was horribly mutilated.

Some separate accounts say that it was actually his former wife, Helen of Troy, who killed Deiphobus.

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Gill, N.S. "About the Trojan Prince Deiphobus." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/who-is-deiphobus-117980. Gill, N.S. (2023, April 5). About the Trojan Prince Deiphobus. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/who-is-deiphobus-117980 Gill, N.S. "About the Trojan Prince Deiphobus." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/who-is-deiphobus-117980 (accessed March 29, 2024).