Cephalus (son of Hermes)

For other uses, see Cephalus.

In Greek mythology, Cephalus (/ˈsɛfələs/; Ancient Greek: Κέφαλος, Képhalos) was a member of the Athenian royal family as the son of Princess Herse and Hermes.

Family

In some accounts, Cephalus was said to be the son of Hermes by Creusa^[1] or of Pandion I.^[2]

Mythology

Because of Cephalus's great beauty, Eos (Dawn) fell in love with him. He was eventually carried away by her from the summit of mount Hymetttus to Syria, and by him she became the mother of Phaeton or Tithonus, the father of Phaeton.^[3]

On the pediment of the kingly Stoa in the Kerameikos at Athens, and on the temple of Apollo at Amyclae, the carrying off of Cephalus by Hemera (not Eos) was represented.^[4] According to a single myth, Eosphorus was also called the son of Cephalus and Eos.^[5]