Cephalus

Family: gods · Role: son of Herse and Hermes · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 1.9

🌐 Also appears in: The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Cephalus)

Cephalus is a god, described as the son of Herse and Hermes; he is also named as a son of Deion and Deioneus. He married Procris, was loved and carried off by Eos, and was connected with Tithonus as his parent. Hesiod likewise names Phaethon as his son: “And to Cephalus she bare a splendid son, strong Phaethon, a man like the gods.”

Afterward, while Procris was pursuing game in a thicket, Cephalus unknowingly threw a dart that struck and killed her. He was tried at the Areopagus and condemned to perpetual banishment. He also persuaded Amphitryon, in return for a share of the Teleboan spoils, to bring the dog to the chase.

Relationship record

Life events

Cephalus accidentally killed Procris while hunting and was condemned to perpetual banishment.(Apollodorus, Library 3.15 · 📍 Athens)
- With: Procris
- “As she was in pursuit of game in the thicket, Cephalus, not knowing she was there, threw a dart, hit and killed Procris, and, being tried in the Areopagus, was condemned to perpetual banishment.”

Apollodorus, Library 1.9

parent: Deion “and there were born to him a daughter, Asterodia, and sons, Aenetus, Actor, Phylacus, and Cephalus”
married with Procris “who married Procris, daughter of Erechtheus.”

Apollodorus, Library 2.4

parent: Deioneus “Cephalus, son of Deioneus”
with Amphitryon (interaction) “persuaded him, in return for a share of the Teleboan spoils, to bring to the chase the dog”

Apollodorus, Library 3.14

parent: Herse “Herse had by Hermes a son Cephalus”
parent: Hermes “Herse had by Hermes a son Cephalus”
admirer: Eos “whom Dawn loved and carried off”
child: Tithonus “consorting with him in Syria bore a son Tithonus”

Apollodorus, Library 3.15

with Procris (interaction) “Cephalus, not knowing she was there, threw a dart, hit and killed Procris”

Hesiod, Theogony 979-1021

child: Phaethon “And to Cephalus she bare a splendid son, strong Phaethon, a man like the gods”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.