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In Greek mythology, Cephalus was the son of Hermes and Herse. When Hermes fell in love with Herse, a jealous Aglaulus, Herse's sister, stood between them and refused to move. Hermes changed her to stone.
Cephalus was married to Procris, a daughter of Erechtheus. Eos kidnapped Cephalus when he was hunting. Some sources say he refused to be unfaithful to Procris, others that he had a relationship with the goddess for some years and that she bore him three sons Phaethon, Tithonos and Hesperos, but that Cephalus then began pining for Procris, causing a disgruntled Eos to return him to her - and put a curse on them. Cephalus accidentally killed Procris some time later after he mistook her for an animal while hunting; Procris, a jealous wife, was spying on him. Cephalus was exiled for the death of his wife.
Later, Cephalus helped Amphitryon in a war and was awarded the island Cephallenia.
External link
John Flaxman's statue 'Cephalus and Aurora' (http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/picture-of-month/displaypicture.asp?venue=7&id=51) at the Lady Lever Art Gallery (http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/index.asp)
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