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. The goddess Eos kidnapped Cephalus when he was hunting and tried to seduce him. 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.

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John Flaxman's statue 'Cephalus and Aurora' at the Lady Lever Art Gallery