CEPHALUS (son of Deioneus and beloved of Eos in Greek mythology)

Cephalus married Procris, the daughter of Erechtheus and sister of Orithyia, a union arranged by his father-in-law.^5,6,3,7 Procris was among the first to wear a bow and arrow, marking their shared life as hunters.⁸ Residing in Athens when Amphitryon sought his help, Cephalus came from Thoricus in Attica to support him as an ally.⁹ He assisted Amphitryon in destroying the Teleboans and ravaging the islands of the Taphians, for which he was paid a share of the spoils.^9,10 As a reward, he was given one of the Taphian islands by Amphitryon.⁹ On this island, Cephalus founded and dwelt in a city named after himself, and other places were named after his children.^9,11

Tragedy struck when Cephalus discovered his wife Procris having an affair with Pteleon.⁶ After Procris returned from Minos, the couple went hunting together, but Cephalus accidentally killed her by throwing a dart while she was in a thicket.^6,10,12 He was exiled from Athens after this homicide and was condemned to perpetual banishment after being tried in the Areopagus.^10,11,6 The Cadmeans purified him of the homicide he committed, and he resided in Thebes during his exile, where he was later given government over the islands after the attack.^4,10,11,13

The Dawn goddess Eos fell in love with him and took him to live in heaven, but he refused her advances, citing his marriage vows and his love for Procris.^5,8,3 Eos had warned him that he would wish he had not had Procris.³ In the end, Cephalus dwells in heaven after being taken by the Dawn goddess, where he remains and does not avoid the approach of the gods.¹⁴ He was the first person to live on the island later named Cephallenia, and a fable claims he was the first person to leap from Leucatas.^10,15 Some ancient accounts claim that he, who loved Pterelas, was the first to jump from the rock.¹⁶

After a long separation, he was recognized by the sons of Æacus and led into their house, where he had previously been entertained.^1,17 There, he was equipped with valorous arms by Æacus and accepted newly levied soldiers, promising to promote the cause entrusted to him through his eloquence.^2,17,1 He recounted the treaties and alliances of their forefathers, stating that the subjection of all Achaia was the goal, and was greeted by a group of comely youths of similar ages.^1,17 Cephalus was the father of Canes, who was the king of the Phocians, and also had a son named Iphiclus with Clymene, a daughter of Minyas.^18,12 Chalcinus and Daetus were descendants of Cephalus, continuing his lineage in the myths.¹⁰ He was not hostile to the pleasures of love, and he held a branch of his country's olive.^19,1