Cephalus. In Greek mythology, Cephalus is an Aeolian prince, the son of Deion/ Deioneos, ruler of Phocis, and Diomede, and grandson of Aeolus. He was one of the lovers of the dawn goddess Eos. Cephalus is often shown as a skilled hunter, reflecting his passion for the sport and his connection to the natural world. He may be depicted with hunting gear, such as a bow and arrow, a quiver, or a hunting dog. He is frequently portrayed with his wife, Procris, in scenes that illustrate their love story. These depictions can range from tender, intimate moments between the couple to more dramatic scenes, such as their separation or reunion. One popular episode from the myth of Cephalus involves his abduction by the goddess Eos, who was enamored with his beauty. In art, this scene may be depicted as a dramatic, airborne abduction, with Eos swooping down to carry Cephalus away. One of the most tragic moments in the story of Cephalus and Procris is her accidental death at his hands. In art, this scene may be depicted as a hunting accident, with Cephalus mistakenly shooting Procris with an arrow while she is hidden in the bushes, listening to his call. The word kephalos is Greek for head, perhaps used here because Cephalus was the founding head of a great family that includes Odysseus. It could be that Cephalus means the head of the Sun who kills Procris with his unerring ray or 'javelin'. Sumptuous sacrifices for Cephalus and for Procris are required in the inscribed sacred calendar of Thorikos in southern Attica, dating perhaps to the 430s BCE and published from the stone in 1983. Cephalus was the brother of Aenetus, Phylacus, Nisus, Actor and Asterodia. By Procris or Procne, he was the father of Arcesius or Archius and by Clymene, daughter of Minyas, of Iphiclus and Alcimede. In some accounts, he was called the father of Oia, wife of Charops and eponym of the deme Oia in Attica. Athenians localised the myth by asserting that Cephalus was married to Procris, a daughter of Erechtheus, an ancient founding-figure of Athens. The goddess of dawn, Eos, fell in love with him and kidnapped Cephalus when he was hunting. The resistant Cephalus and Eos became lovers, and she bore him a son named Phaethon. Some sources also give Tithonos and Hesperus as children of Cephalus and Eos. However, Cephalus always pined for Procris, causing a disgruntled Eos to return him to her, making disparaging remarks about his wife's fidelity. Bribed by a golden crown, his wife admitted Pteleon to her bed, and being detected by Cephalus she fled to Minos. Procris later on came back to Athens and once reunited with Procris after an interval of eight years, Cephalus tested her by returning from the hunt in disguise, and managing to seduce her. In shame Procris fled to the forest, to hunt with Artemis. In returning and reconciling, Procris brought two magical gifts, an inerrant javelin that never missed its mark, and a hunting hound, Laelaps that always caught its prey. The hound met its end chasing a fox which could not be caught; both fox and the hound were turned into stone. But the javelin continued to be used by Cephalus, who was an avid hunter. Procris then conceived doubts about her husband, who left his bride at the bridal chamber and climbed to a mountaintop and sang a hymn invoking Nephele, cloud. Procris became convinced that he was serenading a lover. She climbed to where he was to spy on him. Cephalus, hearing a stirring in the brush and thinking the noise came from an animal, threw the never-erring javelin in the direction of the sound; and Procris was impaled. As she lay dying in his arms, she told him On our wedding vows, please never marry Eos. Cephalus was distraught at the death of his beloved Procris, and went into exile in Thebes. The primary literary source for the story is the poet Pherecydes of Athens, preserved in a quoted fragment in the so-called Mythographus Homericus; a papyrus representing a parallel text based on the same source confirms the details. In a separate episode that is simply an aition explaining the name of Cephallenia and reinforcing its cultural connections with Athens, Cephalus helped Amphitryon of Mycenae in a war against the Taphians and Teleboans.